Placemaking

An arts centre in London has been criticised by a local theatre group after it was told it the rent for space it hires was going up by 42%.

The Haringey Community Press reports that Black Arts Production Theatre Ltd (BAP), which operates out of a studio space it rents from Bernie Grant Arts Centre (BGAC) in Tottenham, said they only received a month’s notice of an increase from £420 to £600 per month.

Andrew Reid, BAP Theatre’s co-founder along with his brother Richard Reid, said the group was unable to pay the increased amount and is now set to be evicted on 7 June.

He said he believes BGAC’s aim has shifted from investing in local talent to engaging outside talent.

“We were involved in the centre from the beginning, the ethos of the centre is it’s meant to be for local people and employ local people.," he said.

“The centre is meant to be reducing crime rates and diverting people away from crime and creating artists.”

BGAC said the rate is still below market value and that it had previously not increased the rent for seven years.

Azieb Pool, BGAC Artistic Director and Chief Executive, said: “We fully appreciate how tough things are for black arts organisations in the current climate; the increased financial pressures, the tough funding climate, and the constant diminishing of arts provision makes it harder than ever for brilliant organisations to do great work.

“In a bid to support the organisations within our Enterprise Studio, we have not increased our rents for over seven years, unfortunately, we are also severely affected by the changing arts sector and reluctantly have to raise the rents to ensure our own financial viability."
 

Plans for a new arts and cultural quarter in Essex have been give the green light by a council planning committee.

Harlow Council secured £19.6m of government funding in 2023 to be spent regenerating the town centre's Playhouse Square and College Square.

The plans include major improvements to the Harlow Playhouse, which will be extended.

Land to the west of the theatre will be redeveloped to create a new live performance and music venue with a music school and recording studio.

A public square for events, outdoor performances, a cinema and outdoor dining will also be created.

Council officers described the planning application as "exemplary" and praised its "high-quality" design.

Harlow Council said the redevelopment will "bring people to the town".

Sunderland Music Arts and Culture Trust has received more than £300,000 for a music initiative designed to provide people from diverse backgrounds with full access to educational and cultural events.

A total of £300,000 has been provided for the Sunderland Music City project from a social investment fund for the North East of England established by Northstar Ventures and £37,500 from the County Durham Community Foundation.

MAC Trust currently organises several major events in Sunderland, including Summer Streets, in partnership with Sunderland Council and Arts Council England.

Through Music City, the trust hopes to establish and brand Sunderland as a 'music city', using music, audiences and venues to help change people's cultural experiences in the city and the region, make it a more vibrant place and somewhere musical talent want to study and live.

Paul Callaghan, Chair of MAC Trust, said: "By developing and supporting music we can help the city and the region in several important ways through job creation, economic and artistic growth, tourism development, reputation and brand building. 

"It will involve not just the music community but also the education and public sectors, voluntary bodies, and the community at large covering all musical genres, all ages and everyone who wants to play, sing, or listen."

Three towns in North Yorkshire have been awarded £350,000 in funding from Arts Council England (ACE) to stage cultural events over two years.

The BBC reports that the Now Then! project will see arts events and activities staged in Selby, Tadcaster and Sherburn-in-Elmet between April 2024 and March 2026.

North Yorkshire Council's Executive Member for Culture and Leisure Simon Myers said it was an "exciting and ambitious" project that would focus on people's pride in where they live.

"Visitors will see our towns as places of singular cultural experiences, and local people will see where they live through fresh eyes," he said.

In Selby, new commissions will be based in the town's abbey and its surroundings, including music, dance, writing and performance.

In Tadcaster, members of the community arts company ARCADE will work with children and young people to create a programme of new work, while in Sherburn-in-Elmet, the community will select creative practitioners they would like to work with to co-devise and deliver activities there.

The programme has been given a Place Partnership award from ACE through the National Lottery.

Pete Massey, ACE's Director for Northern Economy and Partnerships, said they were delighted to fund the project.

"It's great to see so many partners working collaboratively on a project that will tell the stories of places and people as well as offer children and young people in Selby, Tadcaster and Sherburn the opportunity to get involved and develop their artistic skills," he said.