The Mercury Theatre in Colchester will receive £148,000 from Arts Council England, thanks to its Government-funded Capital Investment Programme, as announced today.
The Mercury Theatre is an artistic powerhouse in the East, and a vital centre of culture for the people of Colchester, Essex and beyond. The award-winning theatre transforms and enriches lives in the community by providing people with everyday opportunities to be artistic and innovative, and supporting theatre makers of tomorrow. Funding will go towards purchasing LED stage lighting and the installation of digital equipment to allow live streaming from both their stages and rehearsal spaces.
This work will complete the transformation of the Mercury’s ambition to be one of the most sustainable regional theatres in the UK (it is currently in the top 25% of sustainable public buildings). The digital equipment will allow them to make their work more accessible to a wider audience who might not otherwise be able to access live performance.
This funding will enable us to continue providing high quality creative and cultural experiences for people in Colchester.
The Capital Investment Programme supports the Arts Council’s mission to ensure communities across the country have the infrastructure where creativity for everyone can thrive.
Steve Mannix, Chief Executive, Mercury Theatre said:
“Completing the move to full LED stage lighting will see a real change in our environmental impact and energy overheads, something we are committed to doing. The addition of permanent digital streaming equipment in all of our performance spaces allows for us to continue broadening our audiences, future proofing our venue and being flexible in how spaces are used and creativity is shared. We are hugely grateful to Arts Council England for continuing to see the importance of our work and investing in our venue and audiences.”
Darren Henley, Chief Executive, Arts Council England said: “This infrastructure investment will help a whole range of different cultural organisations across England to flourish, increasing opportunities for people to enjoy creatively excellent cultural events close to where they live. It’s particularly important that we’re making this happen in communities where cultural investment has historically been low”.
Hazel Edwards, South East Area Director, Arts Council England, said: “Through this Capital Investment Programme, we are bolstering cultural investment in communities throughout the East of England / South East. By enhancing the infrastructure of cultural spaces across the region we are expanding access to arts, culture, and creative pursuits. We are also supporting cultural organisations in becoming more inclusive, reducing their carbon footprint, and enhancing their digital capabilities. We are delighted that together, we can nurture a more vibrant and accessible cultural landscape for all.”
