Cultural Regeneration

The regeneration of towns and cities through cultural and leisure activities has been established as a successful way of bringing new life and business to areas. Changing people’s view of a place and challenging stereotypes can also be achieved through the introduction of new cultural and leisure facilities.

The South East England Development Agency (SEEDA), recognised the value of cultural regeneration by awarding Single Regeneration Budget funding to Eastbourne Borough Council and the Eastbourne Reborn development partnership in July 2000. This funding was targeted at community development to encourage social inclusion, including the multi-purpose rooms for community use, galleries and conference exhibition space in the new Art Gallery in the Cultural Centre.

Arts Council England wanted purpose built gallery spaces for contemporary art, and made an award to the Towner Art Gallery to build a new home for the gallery within the Cultural Centre in June 2003.

The Heritage Lottery Fund made an award in December 2004, for the relocation of the Towner Art Gallery. This meant that the gallery would be able to have purpose built, accessible art stores for the permanent collection, as well as facilities for education and visitors.

Eastbourne Borough Council has been able to take advantage of these funding opportunities to develop this unique project to build the new art gallery and firmly establish a cultural centre in Devonshire Park, next to the seafront. The Council’s contribution includes the site, development costs and the proceeds of the sale of the Towner Gallery’s old home. The New Towner Trust has been set up to support this project also.