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Delight at cash grant for theatre
JUBILANT staff at South Tyneside's premier arts venue were celebrating today after it received a vital cash lifeline.
The Customs House has won 179,600 through the Arts Council England's Sustain programme.
The funding is specifically aimed at helping cultural organisations through tough economic times.
And the biggest slice of the money will be used to establish a box office and information centre at a disused shop in the heart of South Shields Town Centre.
Not only will this boost the venue's profile, but will also provide King Street with much-needed vitality.
Today a delighted Ray Spencer, director of the Mill Dam venue in South Shields, described the grant as "a great help to us".
News of the cash windfall couldn't have come at a better time.
Cash-strapped South Tyneside Council has reduced its funding to the Mill Dam venue by 32,000 in the coming year.
The arts complex is also finding it increasingly difficult to attract sponsorship from individuals and companies.
The problems have been compounded by a reduction in footfall at the venue – particularly since charges were introduced at its car park two years ago.
Now with an outlet in the heart of the town, which will employ two members of staff, the public can purchase theatre and cinema tickets much more conveniently.
The money will also allow The Customs House to continue its Bard In The Park season with a new contemporary production of Romeo and Juliet on the seafront.
And it will help fund a new production of The Man And The Donkey, the story of Anzac hero James Kirkpatrick.
Mr Spencer added: "We are delighted to have received this significant support from The Arts Council. The Sustain programme is a really positive response to the very real difficulties faced by the arts during this economic downturn.
"We will move some of our activity right in to the middle of the town centre, regenerating a disused shop to provide an accessible box office and information centre which will also give local artists a chance to create exhibit and sell their work in the borough's busiest shopping centre.
"Sustain has allowed something very new and exciting to be developed a time when so much of our energy would otherwise be spent on managing the reduction of income and cutting of budgets."
The disused shop is expected to start trading in April, although the exact venue is not being disclosed until final contracts are signed.
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Weather for South Shields
Saturday 11 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 2 C to 4 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: South west
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Temperature: 2 C to 6 C
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