Farley's Yard Trust

Farley's Yard Project

This exciting project is the inspiration of Antony Penrose, Founder of Farley's Yard Arts Trust, who is son of the celebrated American Surrealist photographer Lee Miller and British Surrealist Sir Roland Penrose.

The trust has embarked on an imaginative Capital Development Project to convert the redundant farm yard at Farley Farm into an arts centre. The Architect, John Watkins, has designed a scheme for converting the Victorian Sussex barn into a gallery which will double as a teaching and small scale performance space, supported by a small bookshop, café and toilets. Ugly modern farm buildings will be cleared from the site to provide ample parking facilities and open up an unrivalled view of the South Downs.

The barn is adjacent to Farley Farm House, the former home of Surrealist photographer Lee Miller and the artist and biographer of Picasso Roland Penrose, and it will provide a reception point for visitors to the house and garden.

Planning permission for this development has been recommended subject to final agreement on the Listed Buildings Consent.

The build cost is estimated at £750,000 and trust is about to commence fundraising, with the ambition of commencing work by 2010.

Tthanks to the generosity of our supporters the barn has had a basic refurbishment and is equipped with lighting so is currently functioning as an art gallery, but due to the fact here is no climate control events are limited to the summer months.