It is my pleasure to report that this year's exhibition will be in a 'new' gallery, but at the old venue and the old address ... namely the Mall Galleries in The Mall. This is because over the summer months, the Galleries have undergone an extensive re-design and refurbishment. There is now a more spacious entrance and reception area, stylish decor (with a beautiful wood floor), a modernised lighting system and a new walkway between the Main and the North Galleries - which, for the first time really connects the North Gallery to the overall exhibition space.

I am sure that the ING Discerning Eye Exhibition will benefit greatly from the changes and I encourage you to experience the exhibition in this new environment for yourselves.

The gallery refurbishment also coincides with a change of era at DE board level. Following the opening of this year's ING DE Exhibition, Bob Benton will be standing down as Chairman. Bob's association with DE goes back almost as long as mine, as it was Bob who, in Discerning Eye's hour of need back in 1997 found just enough sponsorship money to guarantee the exhibition's continuance that year. He has personally been involved ever since, as sponsor, prize giver and, more recently, Chairman. We will not miss him, as I am sure he will continue to be associated with the DE, but I would like to thank him, on behalf of the Board of Discerning Eye and, more importantly, on behalf of all the artists who have benefited from his interest and support over the years.

Whilst Bob is writing his final opening address for this year's exhibition, I am delighted to be able to confirm that replacing Bob will be John Penrose. A regular prize giver at the exhibition himself, John has infectious enthusiasm for everything he gets involved with and we are thrilled to have him on board. John is a former Fleet Street journalist who knows and cares about Discerning Eye and will, I know, not only chair in the historical spirit of the event, but also bring new ideas to take us forward.

There will be more from and about John in the future, but for now I would like to say a simple welcome!

I hope you will all enjoy this year's Exhibition, which opens to the public on Thursday 15 November and will run daily (including Sundays) until Sunday 25 November 2007. For Friends and Members of The Discerning Eye, there is a Special Event/preview evening on Wednesday 14 November - see further inside.

 

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