The Barbados National Art Gallery (BNAG) now has a place to call home.
This announcement came from Minister with responsibility for Culture, John King, who revealed that after consultation with the BNAG, Cabinet agreed that Block ‘A’, The Garrison, would be reallocated to the Ministry as the permanent home for the gallery.
A section of the Old Town Hall Building in Cheapside, Bridgetown, will also be made available for additional exhibition space due to its ease of access to pedestrian traffic.
King also indicated that a paper would be submitted to Cabinet detailing a proposal for a public/private partnership to undertake the major repairs and renovations, as well as the out-fitting of both buildings.
The public, particularly the artistic community, has long advocated for a national gallery. Successive committees and boards of the BNAG have been working with Government, particularly since 2007, when the Barbados National Art Gallery Act was proclaimed, to make this a reality.
Last Friday, members of the Board of the BNAG were on hand to witness the handover of the keys to Block ‘A’, The Garrison, by the Ministry of Housing, Lands and Rural Development to Minister King.
During this visit, it was noted that Block ‘A’ was in generally good condition, but transformation of the property, into a world class gallery space, would require significant investment to upgrade the building.
The Ministry will be working closely with the National Art Gallery to bring this project to fruition, in the shortest possible time. (BGIS)
