Artists find a home in Leamington's Jephson Gardens

Morgan Lee Forth, manager of East Lodge, with Leamington Studio Artists chairman Kate Livingstone, trustee David Haedicke and treasurer Tony Cartwright, BID Leamington director Stephanie Kerr and Nicola Turton and Carole Sleight from Art in the Park.

The Leamington Studio Artists (LSA), a registered charity, has acquired the lease for the currently-empty East Lodge building at the Willes Road end of the park, which is owned by Warwick District Council.

The park will also host the third Art in the Park festival this summer - an event strongly supported by LSA.

LSA, which is made up of Leamington-based artists, had been based at Gallery 150 in Livery Street until February last year and has since then been seeking new premises. East Lodge will provide the charity with studio space, a gallery and headquarters. Members have already begun creating paintings to use to decorate the building.

Chairman Kate Livingston said: “This is a wonderful opportunity to provide exhibition and studio space to our members and a space to share their work with the public.”

Art in the Park will this year take place on August 6 and 7 and will feature an art marquee by members of LSA.

The festival will also include live music, drama and dance and local food and drink.

Festival organiser Carole Sleight said: “Jephson Gardens is a picturesque and inspiring home for Leamington’s largest arts charity and a new and unique arts festival.”

Anyone who would like to get involved in running the festival can attend a meeting tonight (February 5) at the Arte Cafe in Regent Street from 7pm to 9pm.