Scala, Worcester’s new arts centre, has been hailed as an important new venue for the city by the Leader of Worcester City Council, who said it would be “a centre for creativity where everyone feels welcome”.
Councillor Lynn Denham made her comments after the Council’s Policy and Resources Committee last night (30 July) approved the business plan that sets out how the Angel Street venue will be run.
A ‘Creative Consortium’ of some of Worcester’s leading arts, cultural and creative organisations helped the City Council develop the business plan.
Cllr Lynn Denham, who is also Chair of the Policy and Resources Committee, said: “Scala will be a place that will bring something new to Worcester, not compete with the entertainment offer that we already have in our city.
“It will widen the accessibility of arts and culture for everyone, increasing skills and providing employment opportunities, and also enhance people’s mental and physical health, sense of wellbeing and community cohesion.
“I am very proud that we have taken a collaborative approach in developing this draft business plan. We held an open consultation with the public last year, we engaged with local arts and creative organisations, and we talked to other arts centres around the country to learn from their expertise.
“This has helped us reach the point where we can establish Scala as an important new venue for Worcester. The previous Government awarded us money to purchase and convert the building, but provided no support for its running costs. Thanks to our collaborative approach, we now have a business plan that can bring these historic buildings back to live as a centre for creativity where everyone feels welcome.”
Scala will be established in the former Scala cinema and Corn Exchange buildings in Angel Street, using part of the £17.9m that Worcester City Council secured from the previous Government’s Future High Streets Fund. That funding does not cover the running costs of the venue, so the business plan sets out how a charitable incorporated organisation (CIO) will be established to run the new arts centre.
The business plan was jointly drawn up by Worcester City Council with the Creative Consortium, which consists of Dancefest, Severn Arts, C&T, The Kiln, Mobilise Arts and Vestan. Their skills embrace a wide range of art forms and creative practices, alongside extensive knowledge of Worcester, and most of them are expected to be closely associated with Scala when it opens.
The business plan sets out how Scala will host live events alongside independent film, visual arts, and a wide range of participation-based creative activities, as well as a programme of educational outreach and talent development. These will be supported by two commercial activities, serving food and drink, and hiring of the new venue to third parties.
The business plan can be read at the Scala webpage, where you can also sign up for updates on the Scala project
Chair of the Creative Consortium Paul Sutton, of C&T, added: “This is a fantastic opportunity, and all the consortium members are delighted to be working with the City Council on this forward-looking project.
“Scala won’t just be a place to celebrate local creative talent and communities, it will also welcome artists from across our region, the UK and abroad. It will be a place that celebrates a host of diverse and vibrant artists from across the performing, visual and digital arts.”
Planning permission for the conversion work to the former Scala cinema and Corn Exchange buildings was approved in March this year. The City Council is currently in the process of appointing a contractor to carry out the work, with a decision expected to be made in September.
