THE future looks bright for the Turnpike Centre thanks to a new partnership.

The recently formed Trust in Leigh has taken over as the lead organisation to manage events and other activities on the first floor of the Turnpike Centre, with Cadence Café CIC and an Arts Council England organisation Curious Minds as associate partners.

Leisure and culture provider WLCT will continue to manage the rest of the Turnpike Centre, including Leigh Library, on behalf of Wigan Council.

Trevor Barton MBE, of Trust in Leigh, said: "It will be an exciting challenge for us in delivering long term arts based projects in our area. I am convinced that there is a lot of unidentified talent in the arts in our area that we could showcase. As in sport, we need to build a pathway of arts programmes.

“We need to get everyone involved in the arts in our area to get together and tell us how we can grow Creative Leigh from the bottom up, thereby making membership long term and giving sustainable opportunities to our young people in particular to develop their talent and be as good as they can be."

The Gallery will become not only a place for exhibiting local art but there will be the provision of an Arts Awards hub plus music, dance and drama activities delivered in partnership with some of the region's best arts organisations.

The new arrangement is the result of a successful consultation with the local community to find new, innovative ways to continue to run the gallery in the face of the current economic pressures.

If you’d like to find out more about the gallery and upcoming events and activities, please contact Trevor Barton on 07973116985 or at www.trevor.barton@trustinleigh.org.