Towner Gallery Eastbourne : Architecture Information

11 Nov 2009 British Design Awards 2009 Towner contemporary art gallery wins Architectural Achievement Award photos : Richard Chivers 10 Mar 2009 NEW TOWNER GALLERY BY AWARD-WINNING ARCHITECTS TO OPEN IN EASTBOURNE IN APRIL 2009 Towner, Eastbourne's new art gallery and centre for the visual arts in the South East, will open to the public on Saturday 4 April 2009. Designed by internationally acclaimed Rick Mather Architects, the building occupies a dramatic site set back from the town's seafront with views of the Sussex Downs. The £8.58m scheme was funded by Arts Council England, the Heritage Lottery Fund, South East England Development Agency, Eastbourne Borough Council and The New Towner Trust. The new building includes exhibition galleries of international standard, collection display spaces, accessible storage and research facilities, activity and meeting rooms, a café bar, shop and large-scale exhibition and conference halls. Towner will present a unique programme of major exhibitions of contemporary and historical visual art alongside displays from the Towner Art Collection. The building will open with a specially commissioned exhibition by the acclaimed Chilean artist, Iván Navarro, who is representing his country at this year's Venice Biennale, and a display of works from the Towner Collection selected by public vote. Towner is also the new established centre for the research and display of the artist and designer, Eric Ravilious (1907-1942) through its extensive holdings of this important artist. The Towner Collection also includes Modern British Artists including David Bomberg, Elizabeth Frink, Victor Pasmore and Christopher Wood. Through the Contemporary Art Society Special Collections Scheme it also owns work by Tacita Dean, Olafur Eliasson, Anya Gallacio, Julian Opie and Wolfgang Tillmans. In 2007 Towner was awarded £1m for the purchase of international contemporary art through Art Fund International, one of only five successful applications across England and Scotland. photos : David Watson/Rick Mather Architects The new Towner builds on the former Towner Art Gallery's exemplary track record in presenting contemporary exhibitions alongside its permanent collection with associated award winning programmes of learning and outreach. Founded as an "art gallery for the people", it takes its name from Alderman Towner, the man who funded its beginnings in 1923. Towner continues his vision as a gallery for the people of Eastbourne and its visitors. Rick Mather Architects are best-known for their extensions for the Dulwich Picture Gallery and the Wallace Collection in London. Their current projects include the redevelopment of the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford and the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Richmond, USA. Towner Gallery images / information from Rick Mather Architects