The Dollar Street Gallery in the heart of the town - known as the capital of the Cotswolds - is housed in a four storey building dating back to the early-1600s. The property has seen several uses in its time: originally a gabled wool-workers' cottage, it was modernised and greatly extended in the 1720s and became a Georgian gentleman's residence, then converted to a grocer's shop in 1865. Since 1972 it has been an antiques showroom. The building, listed Grade II, is undergoing extensive refurbishment, with the gallery expected to open by the end of the year.

The Dollar Street Gallery will show modern and contemporary art and sculpture. The gallery will have four distinct showrooms, with total space totalling around 2,500 square feet, allowing mixed and solo shows to run concurrently. The sculpture garden, which will be covered for larger exhibitions, offers a further 2,000 square feet.

Original features are being retained and the Victorian grocer's storeroom, where bacon was hung from steel hooks in the ceiling, will be known as the Bacon Room. There will be opportunities for DE exhibition winners to show their work throughout the year in the Bacon Room. Special events and workshops are planned and an annual Bacon Room competition for graduates will be held, with the prize a special show for the winning artists.

The gallery will be equipped with audio visual equipment for slide shows and talks. Visitors will be able to access The Discerning Eye website and on-line catalogue at any time from wall-mounted plasma screens.

John Penrose says: "This is a truly exciting project. While the annual ING Discerning Eye exhibition at the Mall Galleries in London will remain the main focus of the charity, the Cirencester gallery will give The Discerning Eye a permanent base that can be used to extend its activities throughout the year. In keeping with one of the basic principles of the charity, lesser known artists will have the opportunity to hang alongside work by those who are well established."

 

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