News Story
MAC is delighted to have been awarded £17,362 through the Theatre Improvement Scheme
Through its partnership with the Wolfson Foundation, Theatres Trust is awarding £115,982 to six theatres to help them become more environmentally sustainable.
These awards are made as the Wolfson Foundation announces the renewal of its funding for the Theatre Improvement Scheme, with a further £510,000 in total to be awarded over the next three years.
The latest round of the Theatre Improvement Scheme is funding six leading theatres with projects that will help them reduce energy consumption, operate more sustainably and reinvest savings in artists and community projects.
MAC has been awarded funding to support a project to replace the arts charity's front-of-house illumination with LED fixtures. Switching to energy-efficient lighting is recognised as making a significant impact to theatres’ sustainability.
MAC estimates that this will save 31,672 KWh per year, with a financial saving of £4,000. This will be invested in new creative work and will also enable visiting artists and companies to use the venue's facilities at a reduced cost. The project will make a significant improvement to MAC's venue and is a crucial part of the organisation's long-term commitment to reduce their energy consumption and find more sustainable solutions for their venue and theatres.
Alongside MAC, the other recipients of grants from the Theatre Improvement Scheme are the New Vic Theatre (Newcastle-under-Lyme), Storyhouse (Chester), Battersea Arts Centre (London), Birmingham Rep (Birmingham), and Park Theatre (London).
Jon Morgan, Director of Theatres Trust, comments, "Environmental sustainability is a cornerstone of Theatres Trust’s work to support theatres to be fit for the future. We are therefore delighted to be able to support not only another six theatres in this round but more theatres over the next three years thanks to the generous ongoing support of the Wolfson Foundation."
Paul Ramsbottom, chief executive of the Wolfson Foundation, said, "The projects we have funded with Theatres Trust highlight how practical changes can greatly improve an organisation’s environmental and financial sustainability. At a time when the UK’s performing arts sector is facing significant challenges, we are pleased to be able to renew our partnership with Theatres Trust for a further three years to continue support for imaginative and important responses to the climate crisis."
Since Theatres Trust and the Wolfson Foundation started working together in 2017, grants totalling more than £750,000 have been awarded to help 46 theatres across the UK improve their buildings, including 32 grants to improve environmental sustainability.
This latest partnership renewal takes the commitment to over £1.25m. The next round of the Theatre Improvement Scheme will reopen for applications in late spring 2024. The deadline for applications will be Friday 6 September. Find out more.
