Arts Centre gets £150,000 lifeline

Saturday 21st March 2009, 9:59AM GMT.

THE Jersey Arts Centre has been promised an emergency £150,000 grant following warnings that it might have to close because money was so tight.

It is the second cultural organisation to go cap in hand to the States in as many weeks. Earlier this week it was announced that Jersey Heritage had been given £200,000 of taxpayers’ money.

That quango, which is the custodian of flagship attractions including Mont Orgueil, Elizabeth Castle and Hamptonne, said that two of its sites would have to close by Christmas if more money was not forthcoming.

Treasury Minister Philip Ozouf said that the cash was coming from an expected £5.5-million pot that was not spent by States departments last year.

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1
JTM

March 21, 2009 at 11:12 am

I have never been a keen fan of the Arts Centre, probably after visting other art museums around the world.

The standard has never really floated my boat and the contributers have always hit me “as full of themselves”.

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2
Nathan Jordan

March 22, 2009 at 10:36 am

My girlfriend and I went to see “Educating Rita” last night at the Arts Centre, it was a fantastic production, particularly of note was the elaborate set which earned a round of applause within the first ten seconds of the play commencing!

The Arts Centre does not just bolster the community through Amateur Productions but is used for workshops in all manner of fields including the Jersey Eistedfodd, learning to play musical instruments or even another language, the adjoining cafe is also a thriving social area, particularly of a weekend.

Community Centres in the UK receive grants from local councils; I would say the Arts Centre serves the purpose of such a place and more and as such, it deserves public support.

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3
Hazel

March 22, 2009 at 8:41 pm

I went to see a performance of Allo Allo the other week. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I agree with Nathan in that the Arts Centre is used for many purposes.

The cafe is always busy and is a great place to meet friends for a coffee or a bite to eat.

I hope it will be able to continue to play an important part in our community.

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4
Jack

March 23, 2009 at 3:01 pm

JTM – The Arts Centre is a performing arts venue with theatre/dance performances taking place in the Benjamin Meaker Theatre and St James Church. The gallery is only one element of the Arts Centre’s diverse programme.

Also, Cafe JAC is run separately to the Arts Centre.

We will always need an Arts Centre. Full stop.

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