Smiths Row arts charity announces closure after more than 45 years

A Bury St Edmunds arts charity has announced its closure after more than 45 years.

Smiths Row, which started in 1972, said it was closing due to an ongoing funding battle in a 'difficult climate'.

The organisation had hoped to move to the station master's house at Bury Train Station and closed its gallery at the Market Cross, on Cornhill, in November 2015.

It has been based at the Guildhall since April 2016, operating without a dedicated gallery space.

Paul Scarlett, chairman of Smiths Row trustees, said: “This is a difficult climate and like many other organisations, we have been running on small-scale funding bids to keep going. This is not viable for the medium and long-term sustainability of the organisation and so we have had to make the difficult decision to close the charity down.

"We would like to thank all our partners and audiences for the support and enthusiasm they have offered to Smiths Row over its many years of history.”

Recent Smiths Row initiatives had included its Mind the Gap project based around the railway in Bury, as well as its artist development programmes.