Side gallery, a historic venue in Newcastle that has showcased documentary photography and film since 1977, will not reopen at its Quayside location after closing in 2023 due to lost revenue funding from the Arts Council of England (ACE). Managing director Laura Laffler of Amber Film & Photography, which runs the gallery, announced the decision after exhausting all avenues for continued funding, including a failed £1.3 million National Lottery Heritage Fund bid and the collapse of ACE's Grantium platform. The closure has sparked backlash on social media, with some donors to the 2023 #SaveSide crowdfund—which raised £67,278—feeling misled about the funds' purpose.
The closure matters because it highlights the precarious state of independent arts venues in the UK, particularly those focused on working-class narratives and documentary photography. Side's loss reflects systemic funding challenges, including delayed NPO rounds, rising costs, and a shift in grant-making priorities away from medium-sized independent spaces. The controversy also underscores tensions between arts organizations and their supporters when fundraising campaigns do not lead to the promised outcomes, raising questions about transparency and sustainability in the cultural sector.