A GROUP of Blackburn artists have been left 'homeless' by plans to refurbish the town's Lewis Textile Museum.

Blackburn Artists' Society, which has 144 members, has used the museum for its twice-yearly exhibitions since 1946. But now they have been told by Blackburn with Darwen Council that they will be unable to use the venue for the next two years.

Society secretary Mavis Pye said: "We feel as if we've had the rug pulled from under our feet. We did not have sufficient notice for our forthcoming exhibition which was set for April 8 - May 8.

"All our posters have already gone out and we have had to cancel all our arrangements."

She added: "We cannot easily find a similar venue. We have looked at up to 20 venues which aren't big enough or have insufficient security.

"The council really has broken its agreement with us and the Blackburn Camera Club. Initially, refurbishment to the museum wasn't due to start until September/October, so we began planning the exhibition in October."

Museum manager Sally Coleman said: "We regret the inconvenience the closure of the Lewis Textile Museum temporary exhibition has caused the Blackburn Artists' Society.

"We want to try and maintain the good working relationship we enjoy with local arts organisations and are exploring ways in which we can continue to involve them with our exhibition programme within the main museum building and in other local venues."

The society is now in talks about staging the exhibition at St Gabriel's Church in Blackburn.

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