The Cabinet has approved the establishment of a national art gallery to be housed in the historic former Catholic School building adjacent to Government House in St John’s, formalising a commitment made by Governor General Sir Rodney Williams made public just weeks earlier.

The facility will be named the Christopher Holder National Art Gallery of Antigua and Barbuda, in recognition of a substantial philanthropic contribution made through the Maria Holder Memorial Trust toward the full restoration and rehabilitation of the building.

The project will be financed entirely through a partnership between the Halo Foundation Inc. and the Maria Holder Memorial Trust.

The Cabinet decision, brought forward by Prime Minister Gaston Browne at Wednesday’s meeting, gives formal institutional backing to a plan that had been disclosed on March 3 during the launch of the Commonwealth People’s Forum Creative Arts Initiative.

At that event, Samantha Marshall, the host country’s Commonwealth People’s Forum lead, revealed that Sir Rodney and Lady Williams had earmarked the Old Catholic School and Church for use as a dedicated creative space.