Trouble with the rent means end for another art gallery

Tuesday 29th December 2009, 1:00PM GMT.

Lisa Cleal outside artcollective, which ceased to be a gallery on Christmas Eve. (Picture by Adrian Miller, 0893997)

ANOTHER art gallery has closed.

Artcollective was having problems funding the rent.

The Mill Street gallery becomes the third recent casualty, with Park Street Gallery having closed in October and the Centre Fold Gallery likely to do so by the new year.

Artist and artcollective member Lisa Cleal, 27, was saddened by the situation.

‘It is a shame that we cannot continue,’ she said. ‘It seems to be a recurring problem for the art galleries, finding funding and sponsorship.

‘With us being non-profit, it makes it difficult to keep a gallery open.’

The gallery played an active role in the arts community throughout 2009, hosting an exhibition every six weeks, taking part in the Old Quarter art nights and organising the 24-hour draw.

Miss Cleal said there were plans to try and use the gallery space.