Conference 14 looks at what makes a community theatre. As new 'Community Rights' give people more of a say on running their local communities, this year's conference considers the role local groups increasingly play as providers of theatres and spaces for theatre.
The conference will look at an inventive range of capital projects and solutions used to secure the future of theatres. These include listing theatres as Assets of Community Value, taking on Community Asset Transfers and raising funds through Community Shares and the Lottery.
Mhora Samuel, director of The Theatres Trust says, "We've brought together an exciting range of contributors to share their stories. We'll be looking at some unique examples of theatres in community ownership - many of which are building a new future through their communities."
Henry Bonsu, renowned journalist and one of Britain's most prominent African broadcasters will chair the Conference and theatre critic and journalist Dominic Cavendish will be this year's conference reporter.
Contributors include Communities Minister, Stephen Williams MP; Peter Stark, chairman of Voluntary Arts Network; Kully Thiarai, executive director of CAST in Doncaster; Sir Peter Bazalgette, chairman of Arts Council England; John Lewis, CEO of Letchworth Garden City Heritage Foundation; John Cauldwell, chair of the community managed Civic Hall in Stourporton-Severn; David Jubb, director, Battersea Arts Centre; Sheena Wrigley, executive director of the West Yorkshire Playhouse; and Deborah Bestwick, director of the Ovalhouse.
The Trust's annual conference has attracted a strong line up of sponsors including ETC Ltd, Charcoalblue, ABTT, Northern Light, Artifax, Buro Happold, Chauvet Professional, Clay Paky, State Automation, Unusual, Stage Electrics, GDS, Gillieron Scott Acoustic Design, Harlequin, Purcell, ShowTex, Theatre Projects Consultants, Wigwam Acoustics, Lighting&Sound International and The Stage.
ETC Ltd, the Grand Circle Sponsor, has supported the event since its inception in 2007. Mark White, its regional manager UK & Ireland, says, "ETC is very pleased to be a major sponsor of this year's Theatres Trust conference. As funding from UK national and local government sources for theatres in general continues to shrink, advice on how to keep smaller venues open for business becomes increasingly important. The line-up of speakers for the 28 April in Leeds looks very impressive and ETC applauds the Trust for bringing the Community Rights agenda into the spotlight."
'Conference 14: Community Theatres' is co-located alongside PLASA Focus: Leeds and will take place the day before this popular regional trade exhibition.
The full Conference 14 programme can be found at Conference14: Community Theatres #communitytheatres Book now to benefit from the Early-Bird delegate rate.
(Jim Evans)
*Pic 1 welcome
