The Somerset Art Gallery Trust was formed in 2002, prompted by the sudden realisation that Taunton could at last have a county or regional art gallery when Hunts Court, the former Somerset Art College in Corporation Street, was offered for sale by the Somerset County Council.

The County Council sold Hunts Court to a commercial developer. That dashed our hopes in acquiring Hunts Court. But about a year later the Ferguson Report, which we had helped to commission, found that the building would not have been suitable in the long run for our purposes.

Despite this initial set back, we have achieved a great deal and continue to gather momentum in the pursuit of our goals. One of which is to commission exhibitions in temporary venues and/or in partnership with other providers, such as Somerset College, Somerset Museum and the Brewhouse, Taunton.