THE management of Colchester’s controversial Firstsite art gallery is starting to understand local people don’t want to see much of the art it is showing, councillors say.

The claim came as Will Quince, councillor for Colchester’s Prettygate ward, put forward a motion asking the Arts Council to press gallery managers to include more local artists in their programme He said: “We should all be excited about the next big exhibition.

“If we are putting money in, we want a say in the exhibitions.

It should not be for an arty elite, but for all.

“It is not about art people don’t like, it’s about art that people don’t want to see.

“We have an opportunity to send a clear message to Firstsite that things aren’t working as they are and things need to change.

“Colchester has too much invested in Firstsite. We must make it work.”

Tim Young, councillor responsible for culture at the council, said Mr Quince was “pushing at an open door” with his motion.

He said: “We don’t decide what goes in Firstsite.

The management decides on the programme.

“I think they are getting the message. We do want more accessible art in there and more local art.

“I think the penny has dropped. I’m not going to say there aren’t issues at Firstsite, because there are.

“But we’ve got to support them. It’s in our interest to make it work.”

The motion was passed unanimously at Thursday’s full c o u n c i l meeting.