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Gallery Finds New Home After Funding Cuts
12 Jan
Summary
- Iconic photography gallery Side relocates to Baltic Centre.
- Funding cuts and cost of living crisis caused previous closure.
- New partnership aims to expand educational and community work.
Side, a gallery established in 1977 by the Amber film and photography collective to document working-class life in North East England, has announced a new operational base. The gallery ceased operations in April 2023 due to severe funding cuts and escalating costs, but will now reopen a curatorial office at the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art in Gateshead.
This relocation represents a strategic response to the financial pressures faced by independent arts organizations. The partnership with Baltic aims to leverage mutual benefits, ensuring Side's significant collection and legacy, co-founded by photographer Chris Killip, continue to thrive. The move is scheduled for February, ahead of the gallery's 50th anniversary in 2027.
Beyond exhibitions, Side plans to enhance its educational outreach by expanding into schools and youth groups, fostering local documentary art creation. Managing director Laura Laffler stated the new setup will champion work reflecting resilience and collective imagination, maintaining its North East roots while fostering international connections.
