Petit Parisien - Newark Art Gallery Owner David Moore to Close Shop Amid Footfall Decline

David Moore, owner of Newark Art Gallery and Studio on Kirkgate, has announced he will not renew his lease in February, forcing the closure of the physical gallery. The decision follows a period where declining high street footfall made it impossible to sustain the business despite efforts to break even.

Moore, who operates the space showcasing his own work alongside local artists, revealed that he has been subsidizing the operation every month. "This has always been my dream, but even if it was breaking even, it would be a very different thing - but it's not," Moore said. "It's me subsidising it every month, and that's hard."

The gallery first opened in 2020 before moving to its current larger space at 42A Kirkgate. It has displayed paintings, handmade postcards, pottery, and jewelry from the area. However, Moore noted that even with reasonable rent and a supportive landlord, the lack of customers is decisive.

"At the end of the day if you don't have people coming through the front door it is not enough," he said. "Art is the bottom of the food chain, let's be honest. We've got rents, insurance, mortgages, cars, petrol, diesel to pay for at the moment."

Moore observed that consumers are prioritizing essential spending over art purchases. "I think people look at their budget at the end of the year or the end of the month and say, ‘Can we afford a pizza?’ Never mind, ‘Can we go and buy a piece of art?’ And that's sad, it really is."

While the physical shop will close, Moore confirmed he will continue to produce and sell art from his home studio. He has begun contacting artists whose work is displayed at the shop, warning them to collect their pieces by February.

To mark the closure, Moore hosted a clearance sale featuring artwork from his old storeroom, with profits donated to his charity of the year, the Children’s Bereavement Centre. He cited meeting people and fellow artists as the highlight of his time on Kirkgate.

Despite the closure, Moore expressed confidence in Newark's future recovery. "I believe that Newark will turn around with the work that Claire Ward's doing with East Midlands Combined Authority, the work that's happening at the Castle, in the Market Place, Stodman Street," he said. "All these things; they will turn the town around, but that's unfortunately not tomorrow."

As chairman of Newark and Sherwood District Council, Moore emphasized that the gallery's closure is strictly a financial issue rather than a reflection on the town's prospects. "Newark will come right; I have a lot of faith in it. Unfortunately, it's just a financial thing right now."

B.Pichon--PP