Britain’s Energy Coast honours commitment to Rosehill
Rosehill is at an exciting point with the Redevelopment Plans following the decisions of Britain’s Energy Coast in May and Copeland Community Fund in June to support a two phased approach for the project as a whole.
Read below Britain's Energy Coast's statement and click here to view Copeland Comunnity Fund.
- This project has been delayed and reworked following the decision by Arts Council England not to support the project in June 2013.
- Following which BEC supported Rosehill Theatre by advancing £155,000 of the original grant to enable revised proposals to be developed, which were presented to the BEC Board on May 7, 2014.
- This project will deliver 26 full and part time positions in addition to 8 apprentices and/or work placements.
- The funding approval is dependent on awards from organisations including Copeland Community Fund who are due to make a decision on a funding award of £1m next month.
- A crucial part of the project is to deliver significant community outreach and involvement throughout West Cumbria, building on the success of Rosehill, through its Rosehill on the Road and Taking Part programmes, with this work so far.
- Work includes a new contemporary three-story extension to provide new front of house facilities, exhibition space and restaurant; the renovation of existing space for creative, youth, community use and Access for All.
- The theatre aims to boost its national prominence and provide greater links with the community, creating new jobs and attracting additional visitors to the area.
Steven Szostak, Chief Executive at Britain’s Energy Coast, said; “this decision sees Britain’s Energy Coast (BEC) honour a commitment made almost two years ago to invest in the redevelopment of a key leisure and cultural facility for West Cumbria. This investment is in a project which began its development before the publication of the West Cumbria Economic Blueprint and, more latterly, a review of BEC’s activities by its Nuclear Funders and is a demonstration of BEC sticking to its word. We have been encouraged by Rosehill Theatre’s commitment to create jobs, including apprentice opportunities as well as looking at ways in which it can engage the surrounding community with the arts – reaching those who would not otherwise be involved. The project has a role to play in improving the leisure and cultural fabric of the area and raising aspirations and involvement of young people in particular. The theatre is now waiting for other funding decisions to be made, the securing of which is a condition of our funding. The focus for BEC is now on supporting fewer, bigger projects centred on developing West Cumbria as the UK Centre of Nuclear Excellence, in addition to providing an award winning business support service and an investment fund to help businesses grow. BEC will continue to be the first port of call for any business looking for support in West Cumbria, whether that is support delivered by us or by another partner locally, regionally or nationally.”
Richard Elder, Director at Rosehill Theatre, said; “We are delighted that BEC has confirmed the funding whose considerable support has been and will be an essential part of attracting other significant funding with which to find new and innovative ways to finance arts and entertainment. The advance funding BEC made available earlier this year has kept our redevelopment plans alive and resulted in further national government funding which could lead to the formation of a community enterprise at Rosehill; this would be a ground-breaking approach to our future funding. In addition, we wait for other funding decisions to fall into place to complete the jigsaw.”
Tim Knowles, Chair of Copeland Community Fund, said; “It is very good news that Britain’s Energy Coast has reconfirmed its significant grant towards the redevelopment of Rosehill at this exciting time for investment in West Cumbria. As Chairman of the Copeland Community Fund, which will be considering Rosehill's reapplication at next month’s Board meeting, I do hope that we will also be able to commit the £1 million we have already earmarked for this uniquely exciting project.”
Artist impression of the new development
