ARTS & CULTURE


news & jobs at www.leisureopportunities.co.uk Hunt launches Plus Tate arts scheme


Newly-unveiled collaborative programme to incorporate nearly 20 UK institutions By Pete Hayman


Culture secretary Jeremy Hunt has launched a major new collaborative arts initiative involving the Tate and 18 other institutions across the UK. Plus Tate aims to bring


together the organisations in a bid to exchange ideas, resourc- es and knowledge, in addition to programmes and collections. It follows a successful pilot


phase of the initiative in 2009 and also aims to increase access to contemporary arts in the UK. Among the participants of


the Plus Tate scheme are Glynn Vivian Arts Gallery, Swansea; Arnolfini, Bristol; Newlyn Art Gallery and The Exchange, Penzance; and Whitworth Art Gallery in Manchester.


The Tate is to share resources with 18 other UK art organisations Turner Contemporary,


Margate; BALTIC, Gateshead; Ikon, Birmingham; Corner- house, Manchester; Grizedale Arts in Cumbria; mima, Middlesbrough; and Mostyn, Llandudno, have all signed up to the initiative.


The Hepworth Wakefield;


Kettle's Yard, Cambridge; Nottingham Contemporary; The Pier Arts Centre, Orkney; firstsite, Colchester; Towner, Eastbourne; and Wysing Arts Centre, Bourn, are also taking part in the new programme.


Jelly Baby Family sculptures set for Marble Arch By Pete Hayman


A 'family' of jelly babies is to take up residence at London's Marble Arch after planning permission was granted by Westminster City Council (WCC). The largest of sculptor Mauro


Perucchetti's Jelly Baby Family stands 3.2m (10.5ft) tall and the instalment will form part of the City of Sculpture Festival. More than 60 works of art


are poised take their place at a range of locations across the


Perucchetti's Jelly Baby Family


city during the festival, which is being backed by art galleries such as Halcyon – the gallery


which will be supplying the jelly baby sculptures. WCC planning applications


sub committee chair Robert Davis said: "Marble Arch was for too long a forgotten landmark, but now stands proud as a gateway to the West End and is a destination in its own right. "But there's also a serious side


as attracting visitors is crucial to driving the economic recovery and 300,000 jobs in the West End are reliant on them."


Vaizey opens Birmingham's £10m Zellig development The Custard Factory quarter occupies the site


A £10m complex for creative industries has been unveiled in Birmingham's Custard Factory arts quarter by culture minister Ed Vaizey. The new 100,000sq ft (9,290sq m) develop-


ment is poised to provide a home for more than 100 enterprises and is centred around three top-lit courtyards.


© Cybertrek 2010


of a former 5-acre (2-hectare) sprawl of factories built by custard inventor Sir Alfred Bird in the 19th century. Vaizey said: "It's easy to forget that most


great enterprises have been sparked by the vision and energy of one person."


IN BRIEF


West Lothian theatre revamp completed West Lothian Council has


completed work on a £160,000 renovation of Bathgate's historic Regal Community Theatre. The nine-month scheme has included the restoration of the site's frontage to its original art deco style, while work also featured the installation of new lights and windows. An extension canopy not included in original 1930s designs has been removed and access has been upgraded to ensure that the former cinema meets Disability Discrimination Act standards.


Prestatyn's Scala arts venue 'not closing' Denbighshire County Council (DCC) has dismissed reports that the Scala Cinema and Arts Centre in Prestatyn, North Wales, is poised to close. According to the local authority, there are no plans to shut the venue, which is Wales' first fully digital cinema and includes two 150-seat screens. Hugh Evans, leader of DCC, said: "The council is one of the Scala's key funding partners and the authority is investing a lot of time and effort in helping the Scala to develop as a key centre for the culture, arts and community in the Prestatyn area."


Council confirms arts centre group talks The Borough Council of King's


Lynn and West Norfolk has held discussions with representatives from The Friends of the King's Lynn Arts Centre over the future of the venue. The local authority is planning to relocate the King's Lynn Arts Centre to the Town Hall and the group will provide 'input' if it is unable to come up with any viable alternatives. The council is also planning to make usage and financial information available in return.


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