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Swindon Wide
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Spiralling venue costs threaten community arts groups
For decades Swindon gained a national reputation for excellence in its wealth of amateur performing arts’ opportunities, as well as its vibrant
cultural community comprising film-goers, writers, readers, thinkers and poets. However, as austerity measures threaten arts’ subsidies in other
parts of the UK, established groups in the town are facing an uncertain future due to the inflated costs of using venues such as the Wyvern Theatre
and the Arts Centre in Old Town.
Swindon Film Society has been Stagestruck, which is approaching has been a proud supporter of local hires by local performing groups,
enjoying a varied programme of the thirtieth anniversary of its debut societies’ work in the past, there has although these often change. We
fringe and foreign cinema for 65 performance, has traditionally taken been a gradual reduction of local are delighted that groups from
years, and its 300 members are over the Wyvern for one week in amateur performances. outside Swindon are also making
very satisfied that the Arts Centre May, but prohibitive cost prevented Expressing his frustration Geoff use of the Wyvern.
auditorium is the perfect venue for use of the venue in 2012. said: “I find it quite shocking. I don’t “Stagestruck last performed at the
its activities. However, the cost of Explaining the situation, Stage- think the management is interested Wyvern Theatre in 2011. We have
using the council-owned venue has struck producer Geoff Marsh said: in amateur companies and the always had an excellent relationship
increased by over 100 per cent in “The venue charge for the week in council is either not controlling the with Geoff Marsh. When Geoff took
the past three years, a situation May 2011 was over 80 per cent of management or can’t. Our amateur the decision not to perform at the
which society organiser Barbara our ticket sales, which is unsustain- arts community is at the heart of the Wyvern, he took the time to say how
Hoffbauer finds very difficult. able when I’ve got musicians and town but the lack of support from supportive the theatre and its staff
She said: “Our members love the other major costs to cover. Swindon Council is killing us.” have always been to them.
Arts Centre but when the cost of “In 2012 we moved to the Arts In a statement Wyvern Theatre “Whilst Stagestruck may not have
showing a film has gone from £210 Centre, which was better financially marketing manager Richard Loftus performed here in 2012, it does
to £430 in the space of a couple of but it wasn’t necessarily what our said: “The Wyvern is passionate not reflect a reduction in presenta-
years, the viability of it has become audience wanted, because they about engaging the local community tions by amateur companies at the
precarious. We run the society prefer the Wyvern. in various outreach projects. We Wyvern. Nor does it reflect our re-
voluntarily and it’s very stressful to Because the Arts Centre is have not seen a huge decline in lationship with community groups.”
be faced with such financial risks.” smaller we had to reduce the size
In November Arts Centre hirers of the company by half, as well as
met with Cllr Garry Perkins, cabi- employ fewer musicians which fell Film festival programme
net member for Regeneration and short of our renowned high quality launches on 1 February
Culture, to express their concerns. of presentation.” Organisers of the award winning Swindon
Commenting on the meeting Bar- The Wyvern has been under the Film Society are making final preparations
bara said: “Cllr Perkins assured us management of HQ Theatres, a for its 2013 Festival, which will run from 2
that we wouldn’t face another price subsidiary of Qdos Productions to 10 March.
hike next year. So as long as that’s Ltd, since it reopened in September
the case we will continue to work 2007 following the council’s £1.3m SFS secretary Barbara Hoffbau- television station. www.swindon-www.swindon-
with the Arts Centre.” refurbishment of the venue. Geoff er, said a great deal of organisation viewpoint.com
The musical theatre company perceives that although the Wyvern is required well before the event. The SFS programme will also
“As in the last couple of years, include some exciting footage made
we’re planning to take the festival to by the early pioneers of film and
Have Your New Look venues around and about Swindon, aviation history, working in partner-
ship with English Heritage and their
as well as the town centre.
DREAM KITCHEN us the opportunity to bring together britainfromabove.org.uk
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For less than half the cost of a new one! tastes. But it does mean a lot
of juggling to sort out when
Let our ‘Made to Measure’ all the possible venues are
replacement doors completely available, to make sure we’ve
transform your kitchen got enough projection equip-
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We’ll pay events before we put the final
timetable together.
the VAT during
At the same time we have
January 2013
to source the films. We leave
the final programme decisions
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