Turner Prize buildings must not be turned into run-of-the-mill offices after culture year

Protestors yesterday demanded that the buildings which hosted the Turner Prize exhibition in Derry are maintained for artistic use.

The prestigious exhibition, which has been housed at Buildings 80 and 81 at the former Ebrington military base since September, closed yesterday.

An estimated £2.5m was spent on the buildings to bring them up to the standard required to host such a major exhibition which came to Derry as part of the 2013 City of Culture celebrations.

It was the first time that the Turner Prize exhibition, which is organized by the Tate Gallery in London, was held outside England.

There have been demands in recent weeks for the exhibition space to be maintained within the Ebrington buildings to attract other exhibitions to Derry.

However, Ilex, the government-appointed regeneration organization, which is overseeing the redevelopment of the Ebrington site, has said that the buildings are to be converted into office space.