IN BRIEF ARTS & CULTURE


Hornsey Town Hall scheme approved Haringey Council has approved


plans for the transformation of Hornsey Town Hall into a multi-million pound arts centre for Crouch End, London. The redevelopment of the Grade II*-listed building received the green light from the council's planning committee on 12 July. John McAslan and Partners is behind designs for the new-look Hornsey Town Hall, which will incorporate a new two-screen arthouse cinema, a flexible performance and music space and creative studios.


Finchley Youth Theatre reopens Finchley Youth Theatre in


north London – part of the Barnet Youth and Connexions Service – has officially reopened following the completion of a refurbishment scheme. The venue, which is open to young people across the London Borough of Barnet, now includes a new foyer, a box office reception and a drinks and seating area. Retractable seating has also been installed in order to allow the theatre space to be used for workshops and teaching.


Funding to promote Scottish island culture An initiative devised by six


local authorities in Scotland to promote island culture to mainland audiences has received £820,000 from the European Union. Scotland's Islands aims to use contemporary and traditional music and art to engage with a wider audience as part of the project, due to launch in April 2011 and extending into spring 2012. The scheme, which will be co- ordinated by Western Isles Council – Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, has received more than £1.8m from a range of sources.


10


news & jobs at www.leisureopportunities.co.uk Green light for Tate Britain proposals


Local authority approves extensive multi-million pound overhaul of London gallery By Pete Hayman


Tate's plans for a major multi-million pound redevelop- ment of its original London gallery – Tate Britain – have been given the green light. Planners at Westminster City


Council (WCC) have approved the scheme which is expected to cost around £45m and aims to improve the attraction's galleries and help conserve the Grade II*-listed, Sidney Smith-designed building. The project will see core


visitor areas remodelled and renovated in order to open up the domed atrium at the heart of Tate Britain, while learning studios and public spaces will also be created to meet increasing demand.


Tate's original London gallery is to benefit from revamped areas Designs – drawn up by


Caruso St John Architects – also include the revamp of the main entrance on Millbank. The River Room, formerly a watercolour gallery room divided into three offices, will be restored to one single room for public use.


Alistair Moss, chair of WCC's


planning and city development committee, said: "These plans will enhance this building, and improve an already successful and internationally renowned gallery making it even better for people who want to visit it."


Trafalgar Square's Fourth Plinth shortlist unveiled By Pete Hayman


A number of artists have been shortlisted to produce the next commission for the Fourth Plinth in London's Trafalgar Square, which is currently occupied by Yinka Shonibare's Nelson's Ship in a Bottle. An exhibition is due to be


held in the crypt of St Martins in the Fields from 19 August to showcase preliminary models and sketches from each of the proposals for the scheme.


The plinth's current occupant Mariele Neudecker; Hew


Locke; Allora and Calzadilla; Elmgreen and Dragset; Brian


Griffiths; and Katharina Fritsch are vying for the commission, which will take its place on the plinth from the end of 2011. London mayor Boris Johnson


said: "It's that time again, when the art world braces itself for a spurt of bold ideas for what is surely the premier public art spot in Britain "This is the chance for today's


most exciting artists to create something in one of the most historic and traditional settings imaginable," he added.


Leaders of some of the country's most prominent cultural institutions – spearheaded by Arts Council England – have appealed directly to Prime Minister David Cameron not to cause "irreparable damage" to what they refer to as its most economically successful sector in the imminent Spending Review.


Cultural bodies in spending cuts appeal to government They argued that, while the cultural sector is


willing to play its part in the UK's economic recovery with realistic cuts, the 25-40 per cent reductions proposed would be "catastrophic". The plans would add to the 3.5 per cent cuts


proposed this year, as well as the sector's £322m contribution to the 2012 Olympics.


Read Leisure Opportunities online www.leisureopportunities.com/digital © Cybertrek 2010


IMAGE: JAMES O JENKINS


IMAGE: BRITAIN ON VIEW


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