Curtain raised on arts boost
THE SUNDERLAND EMPIRE AND THE FIRE STATION WILL BE PART OF THREE-YEAR NATIONAL THEATRE SCHEME
The acclaimed National Theatre has chosen Sunderland as one of only six areas to benefit from a new national arts engagement project.
Sunderland Empire and The Fire Station will both be part of a three-year programme, supported by Arts Council England’s strategic touring fund, that aims to diversify and increase theatre audiences in six regions.
The news follows successful learning programmes based around National Theatre productions War Horse and the Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time during their visits to the theatre.
Hollie Coxon, creative learning manager at Sunderland Empire, said: “This opportunity comes at such a key time in Sunderland’s cultural story. We are excited to have the opportunity through this new type of relationship with the National Theatre to develop a good working relationto ship with The Fire Station next door, providing the city with further great opportunities for cultural engagement.”
Helen Green, director of The Fire Station, said: “We’re not only delighted be working with National Theatre, but genuinely excited to be working closely with our neighbour Sunderland Empire. The Fire Station is set to be an exciting, vibrant arts hub for the city, and ourselves and the Sunderland Empire will very much be at the heart of the emerging cultural quarter.
“Many people in Sunderland won’t have the time or resources to visit the National Theatre in London, so it’s such great news that they’re coming to us.”
The news comes after it was announced that Sunderland has reached the final five in the race to become City of Culture 2021.