HOME win as Arts Council awards £5m to new centre

Arts Council Englandhas awarded Manchester City Council £5 million in capital funding for HOME, the new production centre for international contemporary art, theatre and film.

The new venue, at First Street, is due to open in spring 2015 and will have a 500-seat theatre; a 150-seat flexible studio space; a 500m2, 4m high gallery space; five cinema screens; digital production and broadcast facilities; a café bar and restaurants. HOME will also incorporate three of the existing viaduct arches along Whitworth Street, which will house the venue’s education spaces.

 

Audience at David Shrigley preview, Oct 2012, Cornerhouse Photo: Paul GreenwoodThe investment from Arts Council England represents another step forward in the regeneration of the 20-acre First Street site, for which HOME is providing a powerful catalyst.

Sir Richard Leese, leader of Manchester City Council, said: “This award from Arts Council England recognises the tremendous existing value of Cornerhouse and the Library Theatre Company. But it also reflects the significant contribution to the regional and national cultural scene they will make as a new organisation in HOME.

“Most directly, it will act as a stimulus to further job creation and investment in the First Street area. It’s exactly the sort of project supporting future growth which we need to be bringing forwards now, despite the difficult economic circumstances and today’s award is an extremely welcome contribution.”

Dave Moutrey, Director and Chief Executive of HOME, said: “From the start of the project our aim has been to create a shared space, where people can come together in their passion for art, cinema, theatre, good food and conversation. We want to create the right venue for artists to make great work and for audiences to come together to experience it, to take part, learn and have fun. This grant is a major step in helping us to achieve this ambition.”

Jane Beardsworth, North West Regional Director, Arts Council England, said: “It’s fantastic that in such difficult times a local authority can have the confidence and vision to invest in such an ambitious cultural project and Arts Council England is delighted to be able to support Manchester in the development and realisation of this major new arts venue for the city.”