Shropshire Star

Arts grant secures Bishop's Castle theatre for two years

The future of a Shropshire theatre has been secured for the next two years – thanks to a £30,000 arts grant.

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The SpArC Theatre in Bishop's Castle was on the verge of cancelling all its shows earlier this year after Teme Leisure, which owns and runs the leisure centre it is housed in, pulled all funding.

An organisation called Enterprise South West Shropshire (ESWS) then took over the running of arts at the centre but it warned the future was still uncertain without funding guarantees.

Now, after record audience figures over the past season, a charitable arts body called the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation has awarded SpArC £30,000 to help with running costs.

The foundation is one of the largest independent grant-makers in the UK and hands out between £30 million and £35 million every year.

The award was welcomed by Cait Leach, SpArC's theatre and arts co-ordinator.

She said: "We've been working really hard on making the theatre sustainable and local people have really rallied round.

"Charitable foundation, the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, was so impressed with the vision set out by the theatre that it has awarded £30,000 over two years to allow SpArC Theatre to put its sustainable development plans into practice.

"This one-off grant will enable the theatre to reduce its reliance on external funding by putting major new working practices in place, meaning the theatre's future will be more secure."

Enterprise South West Shropshire company manager Mike Ashwell said: "We are absolutely thrilled that this grant will enable the theatre to continue working towards a vibrant, successful future to provide local people and visitors with creative opportunities for many years to come."

To see the theatre's full programme, including special shows for Hallowe'en, go to www.sparc theatre.co.uk or visit SpArC to pick up a leaflet.

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