A BLEAK future lies ahead for painters and sculptures, warns a local artist.

Chris Amriding fears plans for the Storey Institute will rob them of vital exhibition space.

Lancaster City Council hopes to transform the landmark building on Meeting House Lane into a centre for creative industries.

The council is consulting about its vision, but Chris says exhibition space for locals could be limited to caf walls if enough people do not speak up now.

"The future for artists who paint or sculpt in more traditional media seems bleak. Instead of adding space to the Storey Gallery to provide for artists, they are taking it away," says the contemporary figurative artist from Lancaster.

"There's a desperate need for it for local artists who are serious about exhibiting to give them a step up the ladder."

Chris is a member of the self-funding AIM group of artists whose work has been exhibited locally and further afield.

He says there is a diverse range of art in the city and so there needs to be a building that encompasses the variety of art work.

Project manager Chris Pearson, of the city council's economic development service, counters that workspace will not be reduced at the Storey.

"In terms of exhibition space, we are working to ensure there will be additional opportunities for artists to display their work."

He says the Storey will also support artists not based within the building through services such as seminars, business support and training.

More than 500 local artists or groups have been consulted, while three leading arts organisations - the Storey Gallery, Folly and Litfest -sitting on the steering group.