A new art gallery is opening this month, bringing many valuable pieces of modern art into view for the first time in decades.

The collection of paintings and drawings has been held by the Basildon Arts Trust since 1978, but the group was unable to find a permanent home for the 1950s art.

However with the help of Basildon Council and a £30,000 grant from the Cleanaway Pitsea Marshes Trust, the display is now weeks away from going public.

Anthony Hedley, Basildon Council's portfolio holder for community and leisure, said: "Being a new town, people perhaps do not associate Basildon with art and culture. But nothing could be further from the truth.

"We have a rich heritage of arts and this is an exciting and long overdue opportunity to show what the district has to offer. We are delighted to be able to support a venture that will make arts and culture available to both residents and visitors and add to the cultural diversity and interest of the area."

The gallery will include pieces by Alan Davie, dame Elizabeth Fink, Edwards Bawden and R B Kitaj.

They will be displayed on the first floor of the Basildon Centre in St Martin's Square and admission is free.

The first show - which is by invite only - is on Wednesday, June 18.

It is intended that the gallery will become part of a wider arts facility for the people of Basildon.

Published Tuesday, June 10, 2003

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