Seeking a Gallery Savior

The ARTSPACE gallery in Warner Center is once again in need of a savior.

Five years ago, the city Cultural Affairs Department stepped in and took control of the faltering gallery, turning it into a respected and popular exhibit space.

Now, with the city scheduled to move out July 1 because of budget cuts, a consortium of arts groups headed by the San Fernando Valley Arts Council is hoping to take the reins at ARTSPACE.

“We want to keep an art gallery alive in the West Valley,” said Jerry Domine, the council’s president. “That’s our primary motive.”

ARTSPACE opened across from the Warner Center Marriott in 1987 as a showpiece for the Cultural Foundation--a group of San Fernando Valley business people and art patrons who hope to build a multimillion-dollar arts center in the Sepulveda Basin.

But the gallery suffered from a disappointing debut when a Rufino Tamayo exhibit fell short of expected ticket sales and donations. The space remained open only sporadically during its first year. Eventually, foundation leaders decided they could not handle both fund-raising for their arts center and the day-to-day work of managing a gallery.

So, in 1988, the foundation subleased the space to the Cultural Affairs Department. Over the ensuing years, ARTSPACE featured a variety of exhibits.

The consortium now interested in managing the gallery would probably continue that diversity. In addition to the arts council, the other members are Everywoman’s Village, the Los Angeles Jazz Society and Actors Alley. This consortium is vying for control of the city’s Lankershim Arts Center as well.

“The programming would be slightly different in each location,” Domine said.

Foundation officials have received interest from other groups as well and are waiting for detailed proposals before making their decision.

“A little down time in the summer would not be such a bad thing,” said Ross Hopkins, the foundation’s executive director. “But we want to be running by fall.”