SWAY, HAMPHSIRE, UK.-ArtSway completed on the freehold purchase of its gallery and grounds, securing the future of the organisation and offering increased resources for contemporary visual arts in the New Forest and Hampshire. Financial support for the freehold purchase was received from Arts Council England, South East; New Forest District Council and Hampshire County Council.

ArtSway, the contemporary visual arts centre in the New Forest, is a unique white-cube space in a rural setting. The gallery supports the development of new work through innovative artist in residency schemes and presents a high quality changing exhibition programme - functioning on a local, national and international level - as well as innovative audience development and educational programmes.

ArtSway opened its doors in January 1997, but the transition from a Victorian coach house and stables to an internationally recognised visual arts gallery began in the early 1990s when a group of artists established studios on the site, led by founding ArtSway Director Linda Fredericks. With the support of local authorities, Arts Council England and National Lottery funding, the architect Tony Fretton (Lisson Gallery, London; Quay Arts, Isle of Wight; Camden Arts Centre, London) was employed to design the gallery extension.

Since 1997 ArtSway has supported the development and presentation of new work by established, mid-career and emerging practitioners. ArtSway's exhibition programme over the last five years has included presenting work by Damien Hirst, Rachel Whiteread, Antony Gormley, Simon Faithfull, Anna Best, Gerhard Stromberg, Anne Hardy, Richard Billingham, Kyp Kyprianou & Simon Hollington, Elpida Hadzi-Vasileva, Emilia Telese, boredomresearch and Alison Turnbull. ArtSway recently presented New Forest Pavilion (a group exhibition of artists associated with ArtSway) during this year's Venice Biennale, at Palazzo Zenobio, Venice, which was a well-received, unique and highly-innovative project that challenged the notion that rural arts organisations only act provincially.

ArtSway Director, Mark Segal, comments: "ArtSway is developing new models of practice for public gallery working and securing this freehold supports the continuing success of ArtSway and its work. The financial commitment made by our main funder, Arts Council England, and the investment made by our local authorities (NFDC and Hampshire County Council) demonstrates how the gallery plays a key role in the delivery of visual arts provision both for local and regional communities as well as National and International audiences."