Arts Council to consider £3 million capital funding grant for Chester's cultural development

Arts Council Chief, Sir Peter Bazalgette has paid tribute to Cheshire West and Chester Council for an ‘extraordinary’ local authority investment in culture.

CWAC is investing nearly £30 million and committing revenue funding of £920k to create a new 800 seat theatre, 100-seat cinema and fully integrated library, café, 150-seat studio theatre and offices on the site of the city’s former Odeon Cinema.

The Arts Council England is actively considering Chester’s application for a £3 million capital funding grant.

Due to open in the autumn of 2016, the centre will complement the existing Odeon and preserve and enhance the character and appearance of the surrounding conservation area.

Heritage benefits of the scheme include the re-instatement of the Odeon’s entrance canopy, main foyers, staircases and the sweeping proscenium arch ceiling.

Construction of the new Cultural Centre will create 250 jobs on site at any one time and total of 1,500 throughout the contract period.

Sir Peter said: “Local authorities are under enormous financial pressure. So it is all the more laudable that Chester has had the enterprise and wisdom to use culture as a platform to lead the regeneration of this wonderful historic city,”

“It will be, I understand, the most significant capital development project in this city for half a century…and could well generate an estimated 600,000 extra visitors and £16m of gross expenditure each year.”

Sir Peter said: “It is successfully through the first stage of the process and will shortly be the subject of a final decision.

“This ambitious project reaffirms the power of arts and culture to regenerate a city and turbo-charge its reputation, and stimulate its economy.”