2 weeks Ago
A council was criticised for lack of transparency and failure to consult the community during a meeting which approved a 25-year lease for former offices to an art trust. At a Lewes District Council (LDC) cabinet meeting on Thursday, March 20, councillors debated the proposal to lease Southover House in Lewes to Charleston for 25 years for a “peppercorn rent” . Resident Dr Jennifer Chibnall kicked off the meeting by saying she was “anxious about the apparent failure to consult, indeed to communicate, with the town about these rather rushed proposals".
Concerned with the “artistic ecosystem of the town”, Dr Chibnall argued there had not been “robust consultation” with artists and requested that the council include benefits for the artist community within the agreement negotiated with Charleston, which also runs Charleston house in Firle. The leader of the council, Councillor Zoe Nicholson, requested to “set the scene” for the cabinet’s discussion and praised Charleston’s “absolutely astonishing” 18 months in Southover, which has seen 100,000 visitors pass through its doors. She pointed to visitors to Charleston who remain and spend money in the town, as “an important part of saving our high street”.
She said: “As a council, we need to make sure we do our best to improve the economic prosperity of the high street. What drives that is not more retail but experiences, visitor economy and, in part, art and culture.” The council was approached by Charleston, Cllr Nicholson explained, which said it had the opportunity to bid for grants in partnership with the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Tate and the National Portrait Gallery, who would support turning some parts of the building into “environmentally secure gallery sites which could then house some amazing collections”.
In order for Charleston to be successful in the grants, it needs a longer lease. She said: “That is an amazing opportunity for residents - to be able to nip round the corner and see a Picasso or Grayson Perry or something challenging which stimulates conversation amongst community.” Cllr Nicholson highlighted how unusual it was that Lewes was considering this “at a time when across the country, museums, libraries and art galleries are closing down”.
She said: “Art and culture are a critical part of our mental health, social cohesion and economic benefit. “I would argue it’s the lifeblood of what makes for a good community. I’m proud we’re even sitting here and having this conversation.
” Councillor Imogen Makepeace requested Lewes Town Council be brought into the conversation and negotiations. “If we could have a place at the table you could feed through us and Lewes Town Council can feed to you the responses from the community,” she told Cllr Nicholson. Although some questioned the council’s conduct, many had positive things to say.
Councillor Johnny Denis said Charleston in Lewes had brought “things into the town we’ve not seen for a long time” and said the “last thing of any comparison” was getting Rodin’s The Kiss into the town 25 years ago. Many councillors admitted they initially had “mixed feelings” and reservations about the proposal but had changed their minds, with many citing the need for an “experiential high street” and the value of the arts. Councillor Mark Slater said: “We have an opportunity to make an asset sweat for the community and I’m convinced financially that it has the potential to be successful.
“Not many people know this but my doctorate is in creativity theory, so I did spend a lot of time on the importance of culture to communities, it’s hugely important...
it keeps the vitality of community alive.” Cllr Christine Robinson said that as a “bit of a philistine in terms of art”, she had been ambivalent but “we would maybe have a Tate gallery offering on our doorstep here in Lewes..
.hey ho, what’s not to like?”.
