Vince Rea, who has died aged 87, was the founder and director of the Bede gallery in Jarrow, Tyneside, through which he made an important contribution to contemporary art and to Jarrow. The gallery became nationally known through its significant British and international art exhibitions, publications, projects and commissions.
Converted from a former nuclear bunker in Springwell Park, the gallery opened in 1970, and proved excellent for showing artworks. Vince and I met when I was appointed Northern Arts’ visual arts officer in 1974.
