Bay Art Gallery 10th Anniversary

Happy birthday: Ron Woodward, Mandy Troughton, Paul Mitchell, Karen Simpson and Dai Griffiths at the galleryArtists are celebrating a decade of providing affordable gallery space in the town. The Bay Art Gallery was originally opened by sculptor Patrick Crouch in June 2001 and he returned for the 10th anniversary earlier this month.

Mr Crouch was joined by more than 60 artists who had previously exhibited there, as well as founder Ron Woodward. Mr Woodward said the gallery's ethos of providing space for students and upcoming artists, had not changed over the years. He said:

"We charge just £10, whereas at other places the costs of putting on an exhibit can run into the hundreds. It gives more people a chance."

One of his favourite exhibits was Siobhan Timoney's sculpture of a piano that had been dismembered and reconstructed using hanging wires. Mr Woodward said:

"It was a great interactive feature because people could throw marbles off the strings to make sounds."

Another artist from Warwickshire managed to raise £15,000 in one week at the gallery. Artists group CT6 Contemporary manage the day-to-day running of the not- for-profit space and also champion local arts. Booking officer Mandy Troughton says BAG has gone from strength to strength and represents a great place for community use in Herne Bay. She said:

"It really has been very popular and I think the fact that it's been there for ten years proves this. Herne Bay is often overlooked for its artistic output and people think more artists are from Whitstable but actually there are a lot of creative people in the town."

The next exhibition at the Bay Art Gallery will feature digital photography from Canterbury Christ Church University student, Jack Bushell.