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DED can't reduce gallery rent

Minister says department will cut 70% of funding

A government minister says his department isn’t in a position to reduce the rent of an under threat art gallery.

The future of the Sayle Gallery on Douglas Promenade is in jeopardy after the Arts Council said it could no longer justify continued investment in the facility.

It means it will lose nearly 70 per cent of its funding next April.

Laurence Skelly is Minister of the Department of Economic Development which currently charges around £27,000 a year in rent for the premises.

A public meeting will be held at the gallery at six o’clock tomorrow (Thursday) evening when the issue will be discussed.

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