Defunct Darlington Arts Centre misses out on Arts Council cash

12:14pm Tuesday 22nd January 2013 in News By Alexa Copeland, Reporter (Darlington)

DISAPPOINTED: Councillor Bill Dixon said it was "puzzling" as to why the project missed out on funding DISAPPOINTED: Councillor Bill Dixon said it was "puzzling" as to why the project missed out on funding

DARLINGTON Council leader Bill Dixon has expressed bitter disappointment over the Arts Council’s decision not to award funding to the town’s defunct arts centre.

It was hoped that a £2m grant would kick-start a plan to revive the centre which closed last July and Mr Dixon said it was “puzzling” as to why the project missed out on funding.

He said: “Darlington Council has been informed that the Project Vane bid to the Arts Council England (ACE) for the development of the Arts Centre site has been unsuccessful – a decision all involved in the programme are bitterly disappointed with.

“Project Vane 's funding application was based on three quarters private sector funding, plus ACE funding, the project needs no ongoing public sector subsidy and is the type of innovative scheme encouraged by ACE as a potential future model for the arts.

“It is therefore puzzling to learn that the bid has been unsuccessful.

“The Council will continue to work with Project Vane to examine the next steps for the project.

"In terms of the Arts Centre as a building, this remains in Council ownership with current arrangements remaining in place.

“We will keep you informed of developments as we learn more."

Comments (2)

7:01pm Tue 22 Jan 13

Darloresident says...

Yeah Bill - but it still wanted 2m yes 2m pounds of taxpayers cash to get it going.

Now as you and your cabinet have closed the building will you please flog it and use the monies to help with your much needed funding for 2013/14.
Bellyaching about cuts that will be have to be made are quite hollow when you are sitting on this and other assets...
Yeah Bill - but it still wanted 2m yes 2m pounds of taxpayers cash to get it going. Now as you and your cabinet have closed the building will you please flog it and use the monies to help with your much needed funding for 2013/14. Bellyaching about cuts that will be have to be made are quite hollow when you are sitting on this and other assets... Darloresident

8:40pm Tue 22 Jan 13

Spy Boy says...

Project Vane is more like Pie in the Sky. It's a good idea for Darlington and would be a useful venue, but it won't be cheap and so it will become the elitist and select arts venue that people always thought the old place was. The old place never was, though there were a few people through the doors that would have liked it to be. People from all over Darlington went there and only the ones that didn't know the building were under the wrong impression.

The Arts are for everyone and cover just about everything you can dream of. Project Vane is not a People's Arts Centre. The old place was and now we need a new one, or we want a decent chance to put the old one back into commission.

The chaps who were pushing Project Vane have a good track record and knew it could make money, so why couldn't the council ? Even when the council had money they let the building fall apart and would not spend a penny to fix things as they broke. I went to a gig in the Garden Bar and had to walk down a corridor that looked more like a stream as they hadn't fixed the leaks, or cleared the gutters.

It's not a sin to own an arts centre AND make it run at a profit.
Project Vane is more like Pie in the Sky. It's a good idea for Darlington and would be a useful venue, but it won't be cheap and so it will become the elitist and select arts venue that people always thought the old place was. The old place never was, though there were a few people through the doors that would have liked it to be. People from all over Darlington went there and only the ones that didn't know the building were under the wrong impression. The Arts are for everyone and cover just about everything you can dream of. Project Vane is not a People's Arts Centre. The old place was and now we need a new one, or we want a decent chance to put the old one back into commission. The chaps who were pushing Project Vane have a good track record and knew it could make money, so why couldn't the council ? Even when the council had money they let the building fall apart and would not spend a penny to fix things as they broke. I went to a gig in the Garden Bar and had to walk down a corridor that looked more like a stream as they hadn't fixed the leaks, or cleared the gutters. It's not a sin to own an arts centre AND make it run at a profit. Spy Boy

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