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Towner, Eastbourne Borough Council
The dramatic new building provides Towner with a range of purpose built spaces that enable it to operate as a regional centre of excellence for the visual arts, allowing major exhibitions of contemporary and historical art to be presented alongside changing displays of the important Towner collection. The Towner’s collection of mainly 20th century British Art has particular strengths in landscape-inspired art and the work of Eric Ravilious. Through its partnerships with the Contemporary Art Society and Art Fund International it is leading contemporary art collecting in the South East. It is at the forefront of gallery learning research in the UK, through the Enquire programme and a European Learning Partnership, and its work with Hard to Reach Groups was instrumental in Eastbourne Borough Council achieving Beacon Status for Culture.
The neutrality and functionality of the architecture represents a new generation of museum buildings in which the object and programmes are at the centre rather than the architectural statement. The Towner demonstrates that a small Borough Council can commission an internationally significant building on a modest budget through strong partnerships and a consistent focus on the user experience. Project cost: £8.6M funded by Regional Development Funding, Arts Council England, Heritage Lottery Fund, Eastbourne Borough Council and fundraising by the Towner Trust. Design: Rick Mather Architects Some of your comments: The Towner is a great example of a much-loved local institution being re-invented as a world-class contemporary art gallery. It symbolises the way in which culture can act as a catalyst in the regeneration of the English seaside town - a rather neglected area in English society but one which now seems full of potential. The Towner also pulls off the neat trick of embracing modern design and architecture without alienating the local population. In the short time the Towner has been open their team has brought to Sussex a sense of real belief in contemporary art in an area previously regarded as being pretty conservative. This must surely give other towns in Britain an incentive to pursue schemes which would enliven the cultural landscape and the Towner is the living evidence that there exists a need for such projects in Britain. Towner is a benchmark and deserves widespread recognition for its adventurous and ambitious outlook I was so excited when this wonderful contemporary gallery opened two years ago. There is nothing else like it in the area and I regularly make the 15 mile journey from my home into Eastbourne to visit the Towner. The gallery is accessible to all and shows a mix of traditional and contemporary art by both local and international artists. I particularly appreciate being able to see the work of internationally acclaimed artists without having to travel to London. A magnificient new exhibition space - absolutely best use of natural light, separate areas for works which need a more enclosed atmosphere. Sensitive curation, good mix of local, national and international artists and good community interaction. Fantastic to be able to arrange to see all of the work in the collection, rather than just what is on display as part of a current show. A real asset to the south coast, with excellent management and promotion. Unlike so many established museums the Towner does not patronise or push propaganda in your face. It engages interest in all forms of art, modern and old, and gently guides the visitors with imaginative displays. Lesser known perhaps than some of the other contenders it suffers from prejudice against what many perceive to be a rather dated seaside resort in which it stands. After only one visit Eastbourne itself becomes a town that is worth exploring further. It's brought art back to me. As a working mother who loves visiting galleries, I promise myself I'll go to London but rarely get there. The Towner has woken me back up to the enrichment and excitement that a modern community art space can bring to me locally. It is now part of my thinking route. The building alone raises my spirits and stands alone to remind a traditional town not to stay still. The Towner Gallery has injected a welcome breath of fresh air in to a town that previously might be considered 'sleepy' at best. It would seem to be the most democratic and accessible gallery I have visited with a combination of cutting edge installations, local artists and community projects. The new Towner building is a light and airy inspirational space in which to fittingly show the gems of the collection. The partnership with the Tate brings some of the finest art to the south coast. The special exhibitions have so far been impressive and worthy of repeat visits. The staff and volunteers are enthusiastic, easy going and helpful. And the café is very good too. Overall, the best new gallery I visited for some years. I have worked in Eastbourne for the last 11 years & I have to pinch myself when I visit the Towner that Eastbourne has such an exciting art gallery. The exhibitions have been stimulating & interesting with a lot more emphasis on modern & contemporary art than the permanent collection would lead you to believe. The lecture room was full to bursting on a Saturday evening to listen to a talk by Grayson Perry; in the context of a Saturday evening in Eastbourne this is a minor miracle! The gallery's approach to involving children with in the gallery as well as the outreach work is impressive as generally Eastbourne is a bit of a cultural desert particularly for younger people. The Dark Monarch exhibition is particularly wonderful! Having virtually no knowledge of art, I was persuaded by my partner to visit The Towner in Eastbourne. The visit really inspired me and I have returned to The Towner several times since.
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Towner is the new home of Eastbourne’s Towner Art Gallery (1923-2005) which opened to the public in April 2009.
The gallery offers a wide range of public programmes aimed at school groups, young people, adults, artists, and community groups, often using artists to interpret the Collection. Its emphasis on the visitor experience and participation has generated a high level of visitor support and enthusiasm from its first 68,000 visitors as evidenced in comments and letters. 
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