A COMPANY is calling on painters, sculptors and other artists in Medway to have their say on the design of a new art gallery. Charity Fund Halpern Properties Ltd has bought 272A High Street, Chatham, to turn it into an art centre featuring a workshop, a gallery and a café.

The building is 4,600 square feet with an additional 1,000 square feet of roof space.

Architect Paul Ritson has been employed to create what the fund is calling "a highly sensitive design" to house up to 30 artists. The company is now hoping professional artists and hobbists living in Medway will come along to various open days being held throughout April and May and offer their views on what the centre should include and how it should look.

It aims to offer somewhere for students to go after graduating from college in Rochester, Chatham, Maidstone and Canterbury. Company spokesman Dalia Halpern-Matthews said: "We'd like to open this centre not only to house well-known professional artists, but also the young and upcoming artists who may need to be subsidised." Anyone wanting to contribute an opinion can call 01634 842405.