Today marks the end of Redtory Art and Design District, after local authorities ordered the eviction of all properties located within the Tianhe art hub by Thursday, November 21, according to Art Asia Pacific.

Parts of the arts complex have been designated for demolition since June, while remaining sections, including the Redtory Museum of Contemporary Art (RMCA), have canceled all events due to the eviction.

In a WeChat post by RMCA on Thursday, the museum said that after an extended period of disputation with local authorities, a three-day eviction notice was given with no choice but to comply.

RMCA posted the following about Redtory’s closure:





The lack of vision is deeply disquieting, and what we spent ten years to finally achieve is indifference. As the wreckers’ machinery moves in, and the past dissolves before our eyes so does our efforts

Originally a red-brick canned food factory built in 1956, the space and surviving factory buildings were repurposed into an art and design hub in 2009. Art Asia Pacific reports that rumors have circulated of the land possibly being used to build a new financial center.

In September, Beijing’s art scene was dealt a blow after celebrated hutong gallery Arrow Factory announced it would be closing at the end of the month. The gallery’s 11 and a half year run came to an end due to ‘neighborhood improvement’ policies, among other factors. In June, the capital city’s Pace Gallery, which opened in 2008, also closed its doors in Beijing’s 798 Art District.

During its 10-year run, Redtory served as a cultural hub, providing a platform for artists and other creatives around the world. With a relaxing atmosphere, comprised of galleries, bookshops and restaurants, as well as a centrally-located sports field, Redtory was well-received by many and will be missed.

UPDATE (Friday, November 22 3.47pm CST): This article has been updated to include information provided by RMCA.

READ MORE: Artists Evicted From Popular Beijing Art Districts

[Cover image via Wikimedia]