The Cabinet has approved the establishment of a national art gallery to be housed in the historic former Catholic School building adjacent to Government House in St. John's, according to Antigua.news. The decision formalises a commitment previously made public by Governor General Sir Rodney Williams.
The facility will be named the Christopher Holder National Art Gallery of Antigua and Barbuda, honouring a significant philanthropic contribution made through the Maria Holder Memorial Trust toward the full restoration and rehabilitation of the building.
The project will be financed entirely through a partnership between the Halo Foundation Inc. and the Maria Holder Memorial Trust, with no public funds indicated for the undertaking.
Prime Minister Gaston Browne brought the Cabinet decision forward at Wednesday's meeting, giving formal institutional backing to a plan first disclosed on March 3 during the launch of the Commonwealth People's Forum Creative Arts Initiative.
At that event, as reported by Antigua.news, Samantha Marshall — the host country's Commonwealth People's Forum lead — revealed that Sir Rodney and Lady Williams had earmarked the Old Catholic School and Church building for use as a dedicated creative space.
