Theatre given cash boost for£19.5mrevampplans
THE Citizens Theatre and three other community projects have been awarded more than £4million.
City councillors approved grants for work on the theatre, a community centre in Elderpark, a new community hub in East Pollokshields and a scheme at the Seven Lochs wetland park at Provanhall.
The grants follow successful bids by the council and its partners to the Scottish Government’s regeneration capital grant fund.
The Citizens was awarded £2.5m towards the £19.5m cost of repairing and transforming the popular venue in the Gorbals.
Work will result in the most comprehensive redevelopment in the building’s 137-year history and will protect the theatre for many years to come.
It will repair and reveal the most significant parts of the heritage of the Victorian auditorium.
Work is due to get under way next year.
Judith Kilvington, executive director of the Citizens Theatre, said: “This award is a major milestone in the planning and fundraising for our building redevelopment and recognises the significant contribution to community regeneration at the heart of the project.
“The Citizens Theatre is essential to the vibrancy of the local Gorbals community and the redevelopment will act as a catalyst for further cultural and commercial development as well as playing a vital role in the well-being of our local communities.”
The theatre has launched a public fundraising appeal to raise £1.7m towards the cost of the work.
Elderpark community centre and Elderpark Housing Association have been awarded £400,000 towards a project costing almost £1.24m and £550,000 was awarded towards the £2.2m of a new community hub in East Pollokshields.
The final grant of £675,000 will go towards the £2.14m cost of work at the Seven Lochs wetland park.