I was interested to read Councillor Clewer’s remarks about Wiltshire Council’s plans for City Hall as a revitalised entertainment and cultural venue. 

It is encouraging that they recognise that instead of spending £2m just on repairs they consider a far more ambitious scheme to “drive economic growth and regeneration” with a third party (presumably commercial and involved in entertainment) and possibly moving both the library and Young Gallery into the building.

I sincerely hope this doesn’t mean repeating the situation that exists now with the Young Gallery upstairs at the library, unknown and unseen by a large proportion of residents not to mention the wider national population. 

A commercial partner will most likely be involved with performance and will insist on this being front and centre leaving out of the way portions of the building for other occupants. 

Also, I am curious why no mention was made of the revision of the 2019 Salisbury Cultural Strategy recently carried out by the arts consultants Counterculture whose report has not yet been published.

I have written before in these pages that the Young Gallery has the potential to be an art gallery of national standing and a “destination” venue people will travel long distances to visit with all the benefits that brings to the city.

The Young Gallery has in the past put on exhibitions of world class art but if it is to continue and build on this it needs its own prominent space.

With both City Hall and the Library in such disrepair timing is critical and now is the time for the council to think big and give the Salisbury the gallery it could and should have for the good of all.

Tim Chadsey

Chair, Supporters of the Young Gallery
Salisbury