THE boss of Colchester’s Firstsite arts venue has admitted the gallery’s exhibition programme has not suited local people.

Matthew Rowe, the gallery’s director, made the admission during a visit to the £28million venue by Sajid Javid, Secretary of State for Culture, yesterday.

Firstsite was built in 2011, but since then has struggled to attract visitors.

There is currently no main exhibition or cafe at the gallery, and it was partly closed in January for refurbishment and maintenance.

Mr Rowe said: “To be completely honest and frank, the exhibition programme didn’t suit the local and regional audiences.

“I came here just over two years ago, just 18 months into the operation, and discovered a gallery that had kind of lost its way.

“We needed to take a step back and get the basics right.”

He said from now on, the gallery will promote artists in the region, and the autumn exhibition will celebrate artists across East Anglia and relevant issues.

He said: “I think it is a long process, but we need to get artists to respond to the history of the region and then we need to communicate that more effectively.”

Speaking to the Gazette after the tour, Mr Javid said: “I think it clearly has potential as an art gallery.

“Everyone knows just how important the castle is locally and how it attracts tourists to come to the town.

I think Firstsite could be the same.

“I have seen some good examples around the country where there are relatively new galleries, but they have become such an important part of the town.”

Mr Javid also asked Mr Rowe what has happened to staff and management who had worked at the gallery at the beginning.

Mr Rowe said some were still working at the gallery, and were fully committed to making it work, while others had moved on to other projects.

Will Quince, prospective parliamentary candidate for the Conservates in Colchester, who invited Mr Javid to the gallery, said: “A huge amount of money has been spent on it. We’ve got to make it work for Colchester. I hope Mr Rowe and the Arts Council can put their heads together and put on exhibitions everyone will go and see. ”