Alnwick Playhouse anxiously awaits news of funding bid amid hopes of re-opening next month

The venue reopened in January following a £3.3m refurbishment only to have to close its doors in mid-March.

Nine-tenths of its income comes from tickets and related sales and this revenue stopped overnight when it closed.

The outcome of an application to the Arts Council England (ACE) Cultural Recovery Fund is crucial to any reopening plan.

A Playhouse spokesperson said: “Unfortunately we have not yet heard if we have been successful with our bid to the Arts Council England (ACE) Culture Recovery Fund.

"ACE require more time and have offered a new date of Monday, October 12 to announce results. It has been another week which has extended a period of uncertainty at an already difficult time however we remain optimistic!

“The Playhouse applied to ACE to help us fund a programme which will offer diversity via a mix of live and digital performances including talks, debates, spoken word, film screenings and live streamings covering a wide range of art forms.

“Our social distancing seating plan will allow us to seat only 60 patrons in our auditorium at the current regulations. Therefore any social distancing programme will require Arts Council England support to make it possible."

Its latest newsletter outlines the rationale for asking for support:

"To continue to be the creative and social hub for our community - we are the only arts venue within an hour’s drive and in a rural location.

"After our recent re-development closure for 18 months, we need to open to keep our communities engaged with the arts, and involved in arts activities in a new digital or socially distanced way.

“To provide a lifeline for local artists - vitally important now to support new work through digital and networking opportunities.

“To work towards a new digital programme with other Northumberland Venues - A Northumbrian Christmas will bring together all three arts centres in Northumberland to create a social distanced and digitally screened Christmas offering plus an ambition to light up each of the venues with projections inspired by performance.”

ACE has previously supported the Playhouse capital campaign through Grants for the Arts, as well as making a grant though the Coronavirus Emergency Response Fund.

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