There has been a last-minute reprieve for the Bermuda Society of Arts' Harbour Gallery on Pitts Bay Road.

The Society announced yesterday that the gallery will now remain open, thanks to an arrangement with local arts and antiques dealer, Mr. Nicholas Lusher.

Under the new association, Mr. Lusher will manage the gallery on behalf of the Bermuda Society of Arts.

Due to financial troubles, the gallery, opened as an additional venue to display the work of local artists, had been planning to close its doors by the end of this month.

"We are thrilled by this turn of events,'' said the Society's president, Mr.

Elmer Midgett. "It's a beautiful gallery and we can now continue with our programme of promoting our members' work. The whole point of this Society is to support working artists and this additional outlet helps us do that.'' Mr. Midgett said he was grateful to his governing body for their efforts to keep the gallery open.

"I would also like to thank the owners of the building, Mrs. Judith Montgomery-Moore and her family, who have stood by us in our difficulties and have been very supportive of our aims. Everyone is anxious that the gallery will succeed and we're now looking forward to a much brighter future. This association will enable us to continue our scholarship programme for young artists and our Contemporary Collection, which formed part of the original mission of the Bermuda Society of Arts from the very beginning. We are also, of course, absolutely delighted that Nick Lusher will be bringing his expertise and knowledge to the operation of the gallery.'' The Bermuda Society of Arts, which is the Island's oldest art institution, was formed as a self-help organisation which relies entirely on the sale of its artwork and membership dues for survival.

Mr. Lusher, who will occupy one of the smaller rooms in the harbourside gallery, specialises in early works of art relating to Bermuda by such well-known artists as William Chadwick, Prosper Senat, and George Ault. "Art lovers, both here and from overseas, will now be able to see Bermuda-related works of art from the late 19th and early 20th century alongside some of Bermuda's best contemporary work,'' said Mr. Midgett.