Several hundred people have attended a rally outside the Ebrington gallery space in Derry’s Waterside in protest at it being converted into an office block.
Builders are expected to move in at the end of the month to dismantle the gallery – housed in a converted British army barracks building – which hosted the highly prestigious Turner Prize exhibition which closed today.
It is the first time in its history the world renowned exhibition was staged outside of England by the Tate Gallery.
Maoliosa Boyle, manager of the Void Art Gallery in the city said it would be “an absolutely huge mistake” if the venue’s use was changed.
She said: “People really need time to consider what the possibilities of the space now hold, the potential for the city, and really builders just cannot come in two weeks time, or whenever its planned and start taking apart this building which is an exceptional space.”
Since it opened two months ago, thousands visited the free Turner Prize exhibition which featured work of the four nominees of the Turner Prize, awarded to French-born artist Laure Prouvost.
Ilex, the group set up to “promote the physical, economic and social regeneration” of Derry with specific responsibility to manage and re-develop the former 26-acre military base, has defended its decision to dismantle the gallery.
An Ilex spokesperson said: “The intention is and always was to make it a creative hub, not a gallery. This was approved even before Derry won the City of Culture title.”
Among those supporting the building’s retention as a gallery space is local artist Willie Doherty, twice nominated for a Turner Prize, and Turner Prize judge Declan Long.
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