A LEASE on the building where The Observatory Science Centre has been located for 30 years will not be renewed, meaning a new home needs to be found in the next couple of years.
It was announced today (Friday) that the landlord will not renew its lease, meaning the charity is on the hunt for new premises that will allow them to continue their mission of bringing science to the community.
Abbie Rumbold, interim CEO, said: “We will be very sad to leave the Observatory, which has been our home for the past 30 years but we are excited at the prospect of finding a new location for our many spectacular interactive science exhibits.
We hope that moving will allow us to develop, with more space for science indoors and out and more school and holiday workshops – as well as all you usually expect from us – engaging exhibits, science shows and events. And hopefully all with increased accessibility so that more members of the community can benefit.”
The centre says it will be business as normal until the day it has to move, and it will continue to welcome almost 60,000 visitors every year.
The Science Centre has been bringing science to East Sussex for nearly 30 years after taking over the Observatory in 1995. At the opening ceremony, astronomer Patrick Moore described it as “Saved for science!”
The site had previously been the Royal Observatory employing nearly 200 scientists having moved from Greenwich in the 1950s. In the early 1990s it fell into disuse until Science Projects set up the Science Centre.
