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| In the
mid sixties, under the direction of John Miller, artist and
architect, a second hand spiral staircase, purchased from Penzance
Library, was installed, enabling the lower gallery to be employed
as an exhibition space, rather than meting room and studio.
At the same time interior walls in the upper gallery were moved
to give a more attractive format. Later the staircase was resold
and replaced with the central staircase leading to the lower
gallery and visitor toilets. "Wider vistas and perspectives
opened up, and a feeling of space and airiness was achieved".
In 1973-4 new lower galleries, the Harbour Room and the Green
Room were formed after the curator's residential accommodation
was dispensed with.
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| It was
at this time when it was decided that the Newlyn Gallery should
be amalgamated with the Orion Gallery, a relatively young gallery
in Penzance run by Ella and John Halkes and so in 1974 the Newlyn
Orion Galleries Ltd was formed under John Halkes as Director.
Application to become a charitable Trust followed which opened
up scope for further funding and in 1977 the Newlyn Orion became
a registered educational charity.
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| A new era
in the Gallery's existence began in 1993 with the award of grant
of £87,000 from the European Union, Regional Development
fund, some 50% of a the cost of the proposals to upgrade and
modernise the Newlyn Gallery. Matched funding was obtained from
the Penwith DC, Foundation for the Sports and Arts, Rural Development
Commission, Henry Moore Foundation, Penzance Town Council and
Lloyds Bank. A temporary gallery was opened whilst work was
carried out and the Gallery reopened on 16 May 1994, almost
100 years after the original opening.
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