THE Gawler Community Gallery has made a plea for more youthful membership and leadership, announcing it would remain closed despite COVID-19 pandemic restrictions being lifted.

The pandemic has seen the gallery, situated at the Gawler Train Station, closed since March due to social distancing restrictions.

Those restrictions have now been lifted, but the gallery announced on its Facebook page Sunday night it would remain closed.

The gallery is set to move to the Visitors Information Centre on Lyndoch Road, with refurbishment works to facilitate the transfer set to start later this year.

The post indicated the advanced age of its committee and some illness problems has left them unable to put in enough work to run the gallery.

“Our new incarnation will be a wonderful opportunity to display the artwork of our local artists in a popular, central location that is easily accessible to everyone,” the post read.

“The present gallery committee has struggled with problems of advancing age and illness and so we hope that the promise of this new home and format for the gallery will entice some slightly more energetic volunteers onto our management committee.”

A move to the Visitor’s Information Centre is expected to be a boon for the gallery, which was struggling to stay afloat at its current home in the old stationmaster’s house at the Gawler Train Station.

“From next year the responsibilities and tasks of the committee will be considerably reduced,” the Facebook post continued.

“However at present, due to our very depleted committee, we cannot continue to keep the Gallery open despite now being allowed to by the railway authorities and we will also have to cancel the Gawler Art Award due to be held this year.”

In lieu of the Gawler Art Award’s cancellation, the gallery and the Gawler Art Society are planning a joint exhibition to celebrate a delayed South Australian Living Arts festival in November.