• Arts Council England grant totals £4.2 million as part of their Large Capital Fund
• Warwick Arts Centre will be open throughout the project for a range of events and entertainment
• Ensures that Warwick Arts Centre will be a key Coventry venue in its year as City of Culture 2021
• This investment will ensure that Warwick Arts Centre will be the region’s leading cultural centre – “a place where creativity, collaboration and innovation thrives”.

Warwick Arts Centre has been awarded £4.2m in National Lottery funding from Arts Council England towards its 20:20 capital project.

By October 2020 Warwick Arts Centre will be a redeveloped cultural and creative centre for the region in which to continue the organisation’s distinctive, creative, artistic and cultural programme; a key regional venue that will be at the forefront of Coventry’s year as City of Culture 2021.

Warwick Arts Centre will remain open and continue to provide audiences with a full programme of events throughout the project; with the Butterworth Hall and Helen Martin Studio open throughout, and the Theatre, Studio, Music Centre and Woods Scawen Room to reopen in July 2018.

Warwick Arts Centre’s 20:20 Project commenced in Autumn 2017 with a Phase 1 maintenance programme already underway, refreshing, renewing and redeveloping the existing foyers and theatres and re-opening in July 2018. This capital funding kick starts Phase 2 of the Warwick 20:20 Project.

Phase 2 will commence in October 2018, and will see the demolition of the existing Cinema and Mead Gallery and create a new building to house three new digital auditoria, a large ground floor gallery ready to exhibit some of the very best contemporary art, sculpture and photography. The new building will also provide a spacious new-look foyer and café bar, offering a welcoming environment for everyone.

New foyers will be designed to showcase the very best in contemporary art and entertainment. The new building will be fully accessible, environmentally sustainable and a creative hub for international class digital art, exhibitions and performances.

Commenting on the redevelopment and role of the Warwick Arts Centre Professor Stuart Croft, Vice Chancellor, University of Warwick, said:

“Warwick Arts Centre has been the jewel in the crown of the University for 44 years and symbolises our values of open-ness, innovation and inquiry. The University plans to invest in this well-loved building to ensure it remains at the forefront of artistic and creative practice for the benefit of our region and our communities. I’m so pleased that Arts Council England has shown its commitment to this venture and our ongoing partnership with this generous award. “

Peter Knott, Area Director, Arts Council England, said:

“We’re delighted to be investing in Warwick Arts Centre, particularly at this time as Coventry gears up to host UK City of Culture in 2021. The application was very strong and the vision for the future is really exciting. Warwick Arts Centre has a fantastic reputation and its future promises more great things. Sitting alongside a fantastic, repurposed building will be a programme that attracts even more local, national and international visitors.

“The Arts Council’s Capital grants support organisations to improve existing buildings, making them more economically and environmentally sustainable and giving arts and cultural organisations the right buildings and equipment needed to support the delivery of their work, Warwick Arts Centre have shown they can deliver very strongly against these goals.”

Alan Rivett, Director at Warwick Arts Centre, says:

“I am delighted with this welcome award by Arts Council England. My team have taken time to research and develop well considered plans for the future of Warwick Arts Centre and this award will help to make them real for the enjoyment and creative inspiration of our communities and the region – a place where creativity, collaboration & innovation thrives.

“Arts Council England’s £4.2m comes following a generous financial commitment from the Garfield Weston Foundation and an inspirational founding donation from our long term supporter The 29th May 1961 Charitable Trust. I hope others will now join me in the final push for funds to complete our fundraising efforts”.

Full plans and a timeline of activity will be available to view on Warwick Arts Centre’s website at https://www.warwickartscentre.co.uk/2020-/.

9 Feburary 2018

NOTES TO EDITORS

Warwick Arts Centre 20:20 Project

• Commenced in October 2017 with all building works
• Due for completion by October 2020.
• The building will be open throughout this period and Warwick Arts Centre will continue to present a varied and exciting programme of shows and events.
• The Phase 2 capital project totals £17.1m, supporting investment in the region.

Warwick Arts Centre

Warwick Arts Centre in Coventry is an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation. An award-winning, multi-artform venue, Warwick Arts Centre inspires people through the arts, culture, entertainment and creative learning. One of the largest arts venues in the UK, Warwick Arts Centre opened in 1974 and welcomes over a million visitors every year. It makes meaningful, life-long connections with the local community and is a distinctive voice in the national and international arts world.

Situated on the campus of the University of Warwick, its work enhances the exceptional learning experience at the University and supports its strategic vision. With a high quality programme of scale and impact, Warwick Arts Centre is an open-minded, ambitious and dedicated advocate of all art forms.

Box Office: 024 7652 4524
Website: www.warwickartscentre.co.uk

Contacts:

Tom Frew, Senior Press and Media Relations Manager – University of Warwick

T. 07785433155

E. a dot t dot frew at warwick dot ac dot uk

For more information on Warwick 20:20 Project, please contact:

Katie Anderson, Marketing Director – Warwick Arts Centre

T: 024 7652 4452

E. Katie dot Anderson at warwick dot ac dot uk