gallery news :: about us :: John Hansard Gallery: "Due to open in 2008, Southampton's New Arts Complex (SNAC, a working title - a permanent name will be chosen in the next few months) will bring together a diverse mix of art forms, including visual, performing, film and video and Asian arts in a dynamic new building, overlooking the City's East Park and Guildhall Square. Featuring two landmark towers, the building will bring alive a cultural quarter in the city centre, providing a breathtaking new visitor attraction.

The John Hansard Gallery, part of the University of Southampton, has been influential in the artworld, both nationally and internationally, for 25 years, and is one of the leading partners of SNAC. The gallery space will cover a significant proportion of the three lower floors of the building, with the remaining space occupied by the other arts organisations (Art Asia, City Eye and The Performing Arts Organisation), restaurants, bars and cafes. A further eleven floors above will house luxury apartments."

I realise I am prone to being pretty negative about government initiatives in the arts, and I‘m certainly sceptical about whether this will actually achieve the the council’s stated aims of revitalising the arts in Southampton. However, I‘m certainly glad to to see some major architecture happening - it can’t help but to have a knock on effect. I‘m concerned that the project has so little information out there; building work is supposed to be starting ’early 2006' - hmmm.

For a art focussed revitalisation Southampton City Council could do much worse than to have a look at the example of Folkestone, which with the combination of private investment, exciting architecture, grants and a sympathetic council has the potential to see really exciting regeneration. Also see here.

We'll see. SteamSHIFT out.