Kirkgate Arts & Heritage is delighted to announce the next phase of their improvement works at The Kirkgate Centre in Cockermouth have begun. After the completion of the first two stages of funded work, a complete refurbishment of the lift and replacement of all the outdated lighting around the building, the upstairs auditorium space is now undergoing significant improvement with the installation of a heat exchange ventilation system.
“We’re so pleased to see the next stage of our investment programme underway”
says general manager, Emma Heys.
“The substantial award from Arts Council England to make improvements to our auditorium space, energy efficiency and accessibility has been generously match funded by UK Government and The Benny Walker Charitable Trust. This funding has enabled us to move towards providing a more modern and energy efficient space”
Operations Manager Katie Gentry adds;
“It’s not just about reducing our environmental impact, but also improving the experience for audiences and performers in our beautiful but challenging building! With the theatre space being upstairs in a converted Victorian schoolhouse, it’s always been very difficult to deal with the extremes of the winter cold and summer heat. The new heat exchange ventilation will help us to control the ambient temperature in the auditorium and keep our customers and performers much more comfortable in the unpredictable British climate”.
The work doesn’t stop there, as the final part of these significant improvement works is to replace the stage lighting with modern LED performance lighting.
“The improvements to our stage lighting will have many benefits, not only vastly reducing our energy costs and carbon footprint but will also making the space more comfortable for performers and much more dynamic for audiences. The new fixtures will provide a range of colour options which would have been impossible with the outdated lighting.”
Kirkgate Arts are also hoping to encourage anyone with an interest in performance lighting to get involved, with training courses planned for later in the year.
“The Kirkgate Centre is still very much open for business while these works are completed, with a variety of events over the next few months taking place in the downstairs bar. As well as our usual Monthly Market, Heritage talks, workshops and our popular ‘join in’ music and poetry events the space will also now host live music, storytelling, comedy and more, make sure you book in advance to avoid missing out!
Sadly our digital cinema equipment is not portable enough for us to screen films downstairs, but cinema, NTLive and other big screen events will return as soon as possible.”
ENDS …..
NOTES TO EDITORS
Kirkgate is a charity based in Cockermouth, Cumbria. It operates an arts and heritage centre as well as working with towns and villages in West Cumbria to encourage a diverse programme of arts, culture and entertainment. Its vision is to ensure that creative talent is valued, developed and supported with opportunities for all to engage actively with, and enjoy, the arts, local heritage and community life.
The Kirkgate Centre brings the best cultural, theatrical and entertainment events to Cumbria. From the best feature and documentary films to live streaming of top London shows, to local talent, heritage exhibitions, music, theatre, comedy and more, there is something for everyone.
In the historic Kirkgate Quarter of the Gem Town of Cockermouth, sitting on the edge of the Lake District National Park, the Kirkgate Centre is the perfect venue for special occasions, conferences, meetings, courses, exhibitions or private film screenings.
Kirkgate manages Arts Out West which stages performances in community venues from Furness to the Solway, ranging from nationally-recognised theatre companies to international musicians with events that are as much a social occasion as a performance. It is a member of the National Rural Touring Forum supported by Arts Council England as a National Portfolio Organisation.
Follow @kirkgatearts on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram
For more information:
Emma Heys 01900 829966 enquiries@thekirkgate.com www.kirkgateartsandheritage.org.uk
The Kirkgate Centre, Kirkgate, Cockermouth, CA13 9PJ