Five organisations in the south west have been awarded a total of £1,255,483 towards developing the sustainability and resilience of their buildings in the third round of our small scale Capital funding programme.
Five organisations in the south west have been awarded a total of £1,255,483 towards developing the sustainability and resilience of their buildings in the third round of our small scale Capital funding programme.
The awards will support Exeter Phoenix in Devon; New Brewery Arts in Gloucestershire; Newlyn Art Gallery and Exchange in Cornwall; Salisbury Playhouse in Wiltshire; and Watershed Arts Trust in Bristol. The grants will be used innovatively to increase the environmental performance of the organisation's buildings and equipment so as to support reduction in carbon emission and secure a higher quality of work for audiences.
New Brewery Arts will use the £400,000 grant towards the conversion of the current arts building into a 48-bed Youth Arts Hostel called The Barrel Store - the first Youth Arts Hostel in the UK. The significant new income stream will allow for an expansion of their artistic and educational programme and strengthen business resilience substantially.
Ali Russell, CEO, New Brewery Arts, said: 'New Brewery Arts is delighted that ACE has backed The Barrel Store. The Barrel Store will see us create a new, environmentally pioneering, affordable accommodation for visitors and strengthen our long-term sustainability. This critical investment from ACE will support craft practice, making and creativity here at New Brewery Arts. We anticipate The Barrel Store to be open for spring 2016.'
Newlyn Art Gallery and The Exchange's award of £107,638 will support improvements to the gallery including new internal doors that will allow improved climate control and make the space more flexible; environmental monitoring and security that will give the ability to show work by high profile, internationally significant artists from major public and private collections; installation of low energy lighting; and repair and insulation of the roof of The Exchange.
Exeter Phoenix will undertake a programme of improvements to the building's facilities and infrastructure that will increase capacity in the main auditorium, increase hospitality space and upgrade digital facilities with their grant of £320,745.
Salisbury Playhouse have been awarded £140,000 to completely refurbish the Salberg Studio with improved access, new technical equipment, seating and insulation so that practitioners and audiences have the best possible experience. The Studio offers a programme of new work and educational training that supports emerging artists, writer, directors and Btec students.
Watershed Arts Trust will use £287,100 to upgrade their digital equipment and increase their capacity for digital innovation, production, presentation and distribution; to offset their increased digital energy consumption through improvements to the organisation's environmental sustainability including fitting LED lighting and replacing catering equipment.
Phil Gibby, Area Director, South West, Arts Council England, said: 'We're delighted to be supporting these five organisations through our small scale Capital programme. The grants will have a real impact on the future resilience of the organisations, consolidating and improving their existing spaces and resources, making them more innovative businesses and ensuring higher quality and more adventurous art and culture for audiences.'
Since 1994 Arts Council England has supported Capital developments with £1.5 billion of Lottery funding. This investment has supported an unprecedented number of building projects, both as refurbishments and extensions to existing arts buildings, and entirely new buildings in places where access and engagement in the arts was limited. Our investment has changed the arts infrastructure of England and resulted in improved experiences for both artists and the public.
Over the period 2015-18, our Capital investment will prioritise the consolidation and improvement of the existing arts infrastructure, rather than investing in significant expansion or new buildings. We will support organisations to develop the most suitable spaces and resources to deliver their work and become more sustainable businesses.
Find more detail on our small scale Capital programme here