The Theatres Trust, in partnership with the Wolfson Foundation, is awarding six UK theatres £115,982 to help them become more environmentally sustainable, as part of their Theatre Improvement Scheme.
The Theatres Trust is the national advice and advocacy body for the UK’s theatres, and The Wolfson Foundation is an independent charity with a focus on research and education.
The latest round of Theatre Improvement Scheme funding will go to six theatres, with projects that will help them to reduce energy consumption, operate more sustainably and reinvest savings in artists and community projects.
The theatres include the the New Vic in Newcastle-under-Lyme, which will replace or renovate the original windows in their backstage areas; Storyhouse in Chester, which will treble its solar energy capacity; Battersea Arts Centre in London will undertake a major upgrade of its Building Management System (BMS) to improve its ability to manage energy consumption and reduce its carbon footprint; Birmingham Rep will install a new air system in its auditorium to conserve energy and make it more comfortable for audiences; and the Midlands Arts Centre (MAC) in Birmingham and Park Theatre in London are both switching to energy-efficient LED lighting.
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.
The Wolfson Foundation has also announced that it is renewing its funding for the Theatre Improvement Scheme, with a further £510,000 in total to be awarded over the next three years, taking the commitment to over £1.25 million.
Jon Morgan, Director of Theatres Trust, said in a statement: “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.”
Last month the Theatres Trust published its annual Theatres at Risk Register, which highlights theatres across the UK under threat of closure, redevelopment or severe decay.
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