arts & culture
news & jobs at www.leisureopportunities.co.uk
iN Brief
DCMS unveils City of Culture shortlist
£2.5m refurbishment
Four cities selected from 14 prospective candidates by independent judging panel
for Buxton arts centre
High Peak Borough Council has By Pete Hayman
announced the start of work on
a £2.5m scheme designed to Four cities – Birmingham;
transform Pavilion Arts Centre in Derry/Londonderry; Norwich
Buxton, Derbyshire. The Paxton and Sheffield – have been
yer
Suite will be refurbished to shortlisted to become the first
sa
create a 462-seat arts centre, UK City of Culture in 2013.
ard
/
how
with 369 seats in the main A total of 14 candidates put
.
com
auditorium complemented by a themselves forward as part of a
further 93 seats in a new Studio Department for Culture, Media
ainimages
Theatre. Retractable seating will and Sport (DCMS)-led contest
be installed to enable the entire before the four shortlisted
:
visitbrit
suite to be used for a range of bidders were recommended by image
purposes as part of the project, an independent judging panel. Birmingham is among the cities vying for the City of Culture title
which is being led by the council Shortlisted cities will now be
along with Buxton Opera House. handed full and final guidance It's a testament to their hard both a stimulating but difficult
to help submit final documen- work – and dedication to task in suggesting the shortlist
New art gallery to open
tation by the end of May. culture – that they've come so as all 14 bidders had realised
at Horsham Museum
Culture minister Margaret far in what has proven to be a impact of becoming the UK's
Horsham District Council has Hodge said: "Huge congratula- very tough competition." first City of Culture and what
announced that a new public art tions to the four cities in the Phil Redmond, chair of the that would bring, not least the
gallery is scheduled to open at final running for the 2013 UK DCMS' independent judging media exposure that would
the town's museum on 1 April. City of Culture. panel, added: "The panel had accompany it."
Horsham Museum will house the
gallery in a Jacobean and
Georgian space, which will give
Royal relaunch for Sheffield's Crucible Theatre
visitors a chance to view artwork
accumulated by the museum By Pete Hayman created as part of the refurbish-
over the past 100 years, as well ment, while a remodelled bar
as work by local artists. The Sheffield's Crucible Theatre, area, improved accessibility for
attraction's craft gallery will also which is regarded as the home disabled users, improved
be enhanced to provide space for of the World Snooker Champi- dressing rooms and an
crafts, ceramics and sculpting, onships, has been officially enhanced studio theatre also
with work dating back up to 200 reopened by HRH The Earl of formed part of the scheme.
years set to be put on display Wessex following a £15.3m Dan Bates, chief executive
alongside contemporary pieces. transformation. of Sheffield Theatres, said:
A special ceremony was held "Now re-open, the theatre will
Llantrisant arts venue
on 18 February to mark the An Enemy of the People's cast once again be of huge benefit
reopens its doors
relaunch of the theatre, which with HRH The Earl of Wessex to the public with an excellent
An arts and design venue in has benefited from an overhaul set of new facilities and new
Llantrisant, South Wales, has of the auditorium to include a New front-of-house areas programme of dynamic and
reopened after it was forced to thrust stage and seating. with a box office have been exciting work."
close in December 2009 when
the company that ran it entered
liquidation. Rhondda Cynon Taf
Council announces Thornton Little Theatre renovation
Council – owner of the Model
House Craft and Design Centre Wyre Borough Council (WBC) has confirmed the venue as its national headquarters and is
– has been working along with that Thornton Little Theatre in Thornton set to host more community activities.
tenants on efforts to rectify Cleveleys, Lancashire, is set to benefit from a Improvements at the venue will include the
problems with the building's roof £220,000 revamp and expansion. construction of a new entrance, a foyer and a
and outer walls. The council had The refurbishment will be carried out ahead multi-use function room, which will be used for
been seeking to reopen the of a new management partnership with the small meetings or to provide additional theatre
venue due to the economic Paul Nicholas School of Acting, which will use changing facilities.
benefits it brings to the town.
18 Read Leisure Opportunities online www.leisureopportunities.com/digital © Cybertrek 2010
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32