Local authorities

The Alun Armstrong Theatre in County Durham is set to close this week due to repair costs that outstrip the town council’s budget.

Stanley Town Council, which leases the premises from Durham County Council, said the theatre no longer meets health and safety requirements due to problems including broken boilers, a leaking roof and damp.

The council said it was told that it would cost more than £100,000 to replace the boiler system, which would be “outside the realms of [its] financial capabilities”, the BBC reported.

“In addition to this, the roof in areas needs replacing, there is flooding in the cellar, damp throughout and the sewage blocks up regularly,” it said.

“Unfortunately, the building is not as it was in its heyday. However, the town council has endeavoured to keep the building open to the public and service users for as long as possible.”

It said it had given notice on the lease in February and would “look forward to investing into the community more without the burden of paying for a large, aged building”.

The theatre has been operating at the venue within Stanley Civic Hall since 1961. 

Local amateur dramatics groups expressed fears that members would be left with nowhere to perform once the venue closes. Chair of Oxhill Youth Club Gale Wilson called the closing of the theatre “the death knell for the town”.

Building owner Durham County Council said that it was assessing options. 

“Until the lease ends, any operational decisions regarding the building, including its use by community groups, are made by the town council,” said the council’s Asset Strategy and Property Manager Anna Wills

“We know the building is used and valued by the community and any feedback from the public will be carefully considered in determining the site's future.

“We are currently working with the town council to carry out surveys of the building to identify any repairs or investment that may be needed to make it suitable for future community use and we will not be making any formal decisions until these assessments are complete.”
 

Newham Council and the University of East London (UEL) have announced a partnership aimed at increasing cultural and creative opportunities for young people in the area.

The partnership, based at Stratford Youth Zone, will see a £733,000-a-year investment go towards supporting creative and performing arts opportunities in Newham.

The venue will host social and emotional learning programmes, along with activities focused on drama, music, dance, fashion, games design, filmmaking, screenwriting and visual and digital arts. 

The programme will also include education workshops led by art students from UEL and the university will draw on staff and student expertise in education, youth work, social work, business, events and hospitality to involve young people – particularly those deemed disadvantaged and at-risk – in research and the production of arts activities. 

The partnership will also seek to make available opportunities for young people to undertake work placements, mentorships, internships and apprenticeships offering experience and paths to career opportunities in the creative industries.

“Providing exemplary youth service provision is a central objective of my administration because we want Newham to be the best place for a child and young person to grow up, so that they reach their potential and thrive,” said Mayor of Newham Rokhsana Fiaz.

“Through this pioneering collaboration with the University of East London, the Council’s Youth Empowerment Service will progress with its ambitious plans to offer a range of enriching and empowering opportunities for young people through an exciting curriculum anchored in culture, creativity and the arts.”

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has accredited three new Creative Enterprise Zones in the capital.

Westminster, Brent and Islington are the latest areas to be given Creative Enterprise Zones status, bringing the total number to 12.

Across these zones, £1.2m will be allocated to nine projects seeking to make workspaces more sustainable, which is expected to benefit more than 500 businesses in the creative industries.

The Creative Enterprise Zone scheme launched in 2018 and was designed to help communities, artists and businesses enter the creative sector by providing more permanent workspaces, creative skills training, and support for start-ups.

According to the Mayor’s Office, the 12 zones will deliver 71,000 sqm of affordable creative workspace, support 800 businesses, deliver 500 jobs and support 5,000 young Londoners to get jobs in creative industries by 2026.

Khan said the zones have been “a game changer for culture in London”.

“I’m proud that our investment has helped these areas to protect local artists and enable them to bounce back from the impacts of the pandemic faster and stronger than the wider industry,” he added.

“It is vital that we continue to invest in our creative future, providing opportunities for young and emerging talent to thrive as we continue to build a better and fairer London for everyone.”

A major expansion of 3 Mills Studios in East London has been completed.

The £6m redevelopment includes upgrades to several historic buildings and the creation of more than 10,000 square feet of creative workspace.

The overhaul also included boosting the site’s environmental sustainability and climate resilience and ensuring the economic viability of its heritage assets.

The project was funded by a £3m grant from City Hall, with a further £1.9m provided by the London Legacy Development Corporation. It is intended to support more than 1,000 local jobs.

The studio has historically provided staging for numerous well-known TV series and films. The renovations will allow it to expand its offering to film, TV and theatre.

“London is a global hub for film and television and 3 Mills has been pivotal in the success of the industry,” said Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London.

“The restoration of these historic buildings not only offers much needed space for more industry production to take place in the capital, but also supports over a thousand jobs in the heart of east London. 

“It will enable the studios to play a major role as the capital’s film and TV industries support our economy and we build a better London for everyone.”

Adrian Wootton, Chief Executive of Film London and the British Film Commission, added: “London and the UK’s film and TV industry continues to drive significant economic growth, supporting thousands of new jobs each year through production hubs in the capital and across the UK regions and nation”. 

“It is because of first class facilities like 3 Mills Studios, as well as our world class talent and crew, that the UK is a leading global centre for production.’

“Upgrading our studio facilities is essential to maintaining the UK’s attractiveness to domestic and international productions, helping to future-proof our creative industries in the process.’’