Council commits to future of arts venue

A Lancaster arts venue that faced an uncertain future after rising running costs threatened its council-run operation will introduce public membership to help secure its finances.

Lancaster City Council (LCC) has announced it will continue to run The Platform in Morecambe under a new operating model despite previously saying it would no longer operate the building after April 2024 as part of a plan to save £2.4m. 

The decision comes after a call for expressions of interest from third parties to operate and underwrite the cost of running the venue, resulted in three proposals being submitted before the process closed in September.

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Councillor Catherine Potter said: “The council has always wanted to see The Platform remain open and to secure a sustainable future for the building.

"It was right to see if this could be achieved through a third-party operator to reduce the cost to the council of running the building, but it has become clear that the better option is for us to continue running it ourselves."

The Platform, which hosts live events and community art classes, is a restored Edwardian railway station that became an arts and culture venue in 1997. 

The net cost of its operation to LCC is around £150,000 a year, a figure that the council had previously deemed  “no longer sustainable in the long-term,” as its own funding has decreased by approximately 40% since 2008/9. 

The council said that “along with many other local authorities”, it was “battling against unprecedented pressures caused by steep increases in its operating costs, increasing demand for services, and below-inflation funding from the government”.

It is hoped that a membership scheme will provide a more reliable source of income that will “continue the venue’s core purpose of providing entertainment" while "increasing income and reducing costs”.

As part of its cost savings, the council has moved forward with its plans to close two visitor information centres in October, one of which is based at The Platform and is a key sales point for tickets to the venue’s events.

Potter added: “Through discussions with staff, it is clear that they have a passion for the venue which is unmatched, and I’m excited to see their ideas for a new operating model and work with them to ensure the venue reaches its full potential.”

The council’s U-turn follows a backlash from local community members, with some engaging with local petitions calling for The Platform’s future to be safeguarded.