SDLP Foyle MP Mark Durkan has reiterated his call today for an “honest and positive” debate on the future of the gallery space in Derry’s Ebrington Square.
On Sunday, a group campaigning for the gallery to be retained are due hold a protest outside the Waterside venue where the Turner Prize Exhibition has been staged from the past two months.
There are plans to convert the former Briitsh army barracks into office space.
Mr Durkan said those responsible for the future of the biulding “need to listen” when artistic leadership in the city ask for a rethink on the best future use of the building which, he stressed, already met Tate exhibition standards.
Mr Durkan said: “If we are serious about cultural legacy, then we should heed the counsel from cultural advocates of proven pedigree.
“Some are rightly questioning if we have a quality exhibition space that works to Tate standards, that meets Tate specifications in terms of temperature / air control, lighting etc. then why give that up for something else?
“Those in artistic leadership in our city who are calling for this are not doing so to subvert previous plans or to dish any other sector – not least the digital and creative industries originally envisaged for Building 80/81.
“What they are saying is that there is other room on the Ebrington site to house that.”
Mr Durkan added: “We need to have an honest and positive debate about all of this. That debate should be based on the fact that people’s ambitions (not least in relation to Turner) have been triggered and encouraged by the City of Culture year, rather than have Ilex, the City Council or anyone else say that this wasn’t planned for a number of years ago and therefore can’t be changed now.”
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