CHELSEA space was deeply saddened to hear the news that Alan Haydon, Director of the De La Warr Pavilion, has passed away following a short illness.

Alan had been the Director and Chief executive at the De La Warr since 1999 and had overseen the transformation of this iconic but run down building into a world class centre for the arts with recent exhibitions including Joseph Beuys, Anthony Gormley, Andy Warhol, and an equally impressive programme of music and live arts. Most recently Alan was working on an astonishing new commission with Richard Wilson for the cultural Olympiad in 2012.

Alan Haydon and CHELSEA space Director Donald Smith got to know each other after curator Jane Won moved from CHELSEA space to the De La Warr in 2007, Smith said today “everyone here at CHELSEA space would like to extend our condolences to Alan’s wife and family, and to all those who worked with him at De La Warr. Alan was an inspirational cultural leader and a hugely entertaining character who will be much missed”