Meeting over funding cuts to popular Wolverhampton centre
Talks will be held to try to safeguard the long-term future of a well-known arts centre in Wolverhampton, once used by singer Beverley Knight, as it braces itself for a funding cut.
Wolverhampton's Newhampton Arts Centre will lose its £25,000 annual local authority funding from next year.
And while bosses say the centre's future is secure in the short term, they are having to draw up contingency plans for the long-term future.
A public meeting is being held for people to discuss ideas for the future of the arts centre, in Dunkley Street, Whitmore Reans.
Bosses say they are looking for 'original and practical ideas' to help bridge the gap left by the funding cut, which is part of £123 million of savings being made by the city council.
Centre manager Christine McGowan said: "With no promotion budget, the NNAC has always worked in partnership with the people who make things happen here: run classes, hire offices and promote events in the theatre.
"The NAC belongs to the people who use it, so we are looking to them for some inspired ideas for how we can meet the challenge of the coming years.
"When you bring people together, you never know what sparks will fly."
The meeting will be held at the centre at 7pm on June 17.
Ms McGowan said most of the centre's income comes through room hire and usage, although the main regular funding was from the council.
"Losing this amount of money does have a big impact and will be a gap we have to fill year on year," she added.
"We are interested to hear peoples' ideas.
"This is about the future of the centre in the long term. But we need to start thinking of ways to deal with this now so we can be sure the centre has a future in 10 years' time.
"The NAC is unique in Wolverhampton for the range of facilities on one site. We don't intend to let this slip through our fingers."
Ms McGowan said she would be appealing for people to volunteer to help out at the centre too.
Newhampton Arts Centre hosts shows, classes and concerts, and is home to a theatre, radio station, recording studio, rehearsal rooms and offices.
It opened in 2000 and has been used by up and coming stars of the city, including soul singer Beverley Knight.
Thirteen voluntary organisations in Wolverhampton lost their council funding in April, as part of a £1.6 million cut to the sector.
Newhampton Arts Centre is one of 16 organisations which will see their funding cease from next year.
