AN independent art gallery in Wrexham is facing closure despite setting up base near the town’s new multi-million pound arts hub.

Wrexham Independent Gallery, tWIG, says it will have to close its doors next month if money is not found to pay the rent at its new premises in the Butcher’s Market.

Its trustees say a decline in membership and failure to secure grant aid has hit hard, while the numbers of artists displaying has dropped due its nomadic existence.

The Butcher’s Market is tWIG’s fourth home in recent years with the gallery exhibition transferring from the People’s Market to two separate shop units in the South Arcade.

Trustees of tWIG say their hopes of taking a place in the new Ty Pawb complex which opened to the public last month were dashed by “high” rents and they now are mulling over whether to wind up the charity unless they can find new funding.

Trustee Jacqui Blore said: “We have moved three times in the last year and while the move to the Butcher’s Market is a positive one we had to make it when it became apparent that the unit in Ty Pawb was going to be too expensive.

“We need £200 a month to keep going and pay the rent. It may seem a small amount to keep bringing independent art work to the Wrexham community. But we are struggling and it is a shame as we only display art made by local artists.”

The gallery earns its income from hanging fees and commission, but the numbers of artists exhibiting has fallen from 45 at its peak to a dozen.

It was the vision of Wrexham water colour artist Keith Evans, who wanted to help local artists who were struggling to find places to exhibit their work. As well as keen amateurs, the gallery has hosted professional artists like David Walker and Paula Salmons.

But Keith, who is the chairman of the trustees, said: “We have lost several artists who have been the backbone in the past and our last few applications for funding have been refused.

“Unless there is a large and sustained increase in income we will have no alternative but to wind up the charity and cease trading at the end of May.”

Members of tWIG discussed the gallery’s future at their recent annual meeting.

Anyone who would like to help their plight or become a member of the gallery should ring tWIG on 07802645852 or via Facebook at @twigwxm