News – Promoting excellence

Aldeburgh Productions is forging ahead with development plans to create a national centre of excellence. Aldeburgh was one of three centres, along with Dartington in Devon and The Sage Gateshead in Tyne & Wear, which received a total of £1.3m in Arts Council England’s (ACE) allocation of three year funding in April this year.
While the organisations have diverse plans and agendas, they are linked by a shared emphasis on education and artist development based around a professional music programme, and are heavily reliant on levering external sources of funding. While Sage Gateshead has secured over £10m for project activities, Aldeburgh Productions, is still seeking to raise £5m to fulfil plans including the creation of The Pumphouse, a new rehearsal and performance space, and the reconfiguration of the site at Snape Maltings. The intention is to create a performance centre on a par with European and international rivals. Peter Hewitt, ACE Chief Executive, will launch Aldeburgh’s development plans at a presentation on October 24. He commented, “I’m very excited about the development plans here at Aldeburgh and the vision that has been created of a new musical landscape. It’s a great privilege to play a part in supporting such a project, however great or small that may be.”