Newly opened Sir Hans Sloane Centre proving popular with over 300 visitors

Newly opened Sir Hans Sloane Centre proving popular with over 300 visitors

28 October 2020

THE new Sir Hans Sloane Centre in Killyleagh is up and running — and proving highly popular.

An exhibition last month by local artist Darren ‘Duxy’ Leahy attracted more than 300 people to the centre in High Street.

Duxy exhibited 25 of his paintings, one for which was raffled and raised over £700 in aid of the centre.

This new Duxy Leahy Fund will now support the launch of the Saturday science club for children aged 6-11 and the children’s art club.

The free places for the science club have all been snapped up but anyone wishing to join, or to sign up for the art club, should contact the centre.

The exhibition gave people an opportunity to visit the centre for the first time and they liked what they saw.

Visitors came from as far afield as Saintfield, Belfast and Newry. With Covid restrictions in place, there was a near continuous trickle of people from morning to evening over a three-week period.

The centre is now showing its potential with interesting displays on local history and Strangford Lough.

It’s a comfortable place for visitors and for locals there’s a bookable meeting room and gallery, which was put into place by Duxy in preparation of his exhibition.  

On the strength of Duxy’s successful exhibition children aged 6-9 currently have their art work on display and a second exhibition of the work of renowned artist Leo Casement is planned for the first two weeks in December.

Leo is donating one of his landscape paintings to the centre to be raffled to raise further much-needed funds. Tickets will soon be available online or from the centre during its opening hours on Wednesdays and Saturdays. 

There are plenty of other activities coming up. A poetry exhibition takes place from November 10-25 and there is also a poetry competition with prizes for the following 

age groups — 8-11, 12-17 and 18 and over.

Clive Scoular will be giving history talks next Monday, November 2, and the following Monday. There is also a book club, drama society and art club. 

Further information about the Sir Hans Sloane Centre is available on Twitter and Facebook.