Walsall's New Art Gallery: Hundreds protest against council funding cuts
[gallery] Hundreds of people took to the streets outside Walsall's New Art Gallery to protest against proposals that would see its funding from the council cut.
The protest saw artists, residents, former art teachers, campaigners as well as representatives from other arts venues, mental health services and children's services gather in opposition to the proposed cuts.
Internationally acclaimed artist Andrew Tift, who has worked as a professional artist for more than 20 years, recently pleaded with the council not to close down the art gallery through his creation of a poster.
At the protest, with his poster, Mr Tift said: "The gallery is one of the best regional art galleries in the country, it's recognised as being so both in London and internationally.
"It's Walsall's unique selling point, brings in a lot of money from people coming into the town, estimates are around £2 million a year."
He said closure would be devastating.
The gallery, which cost £21m to open, faces closure after funding cuts left the council needing to make £85m of savings over the next four years.
Under the proposed plans, Walsall council would stop funding the gallery.
This would mean the gallery would be left with its Art Council funding to operate, which would mean it would have to find other funding sources to remain open.
Speaking at the protest, leader of the council Sean Coughlan said: "This country voted for austerity, we have to deal with it. I don't like it as much as you don't, but we have to deal with it."
The decision about whether New Art Gallery will remain funded by the council will be made by the local authority on February 23 next year.
As well as the art gallery, 14 out of Walsall's 15 libraries are also under threat of closure.
A petition has been launched to try and save them and has already amassed more than 2,500 signatures.
Mr Coughlan said: "I was there at the event speaking directly to many of the protesters outside the gallery and listening to their concerns.
"I also reassured them that the proposal for the Gallery was never to close it down, but to see a gradual reduction in the financial support the council gives to its operational costs."
