Why we are making a big noise in support of our local venues...

hey’re the places we go to laugh, dance, listen and learn about the world.

And they face a crisis, the like of which many have not seen before.

Countless theatres, concert halls and other arts venues across Britain are in dire financial difficulty. And if they are forced to close, we will all lose out.

That’s why we are proud to be running major campaign The Show Must Go On. We know how important these places are to our villages, towns and cities. We know what they mean to so many of you - the memories they stir, the creativity they inspire, the financial support they provide to our businesses and workers.

The government recently announced it is spending £1.57 billion to support the industry. But as vast as that sum may sound, it is unlikely to be enough. And with so much of the arts world focused on London, there is a danger that swathes of the country will be overlooked.

We want to make sure our venues get the help they need

TOur campaign has been endorsed by the Theatres Trust, the national charity that campaigns to protect theatre buildings for current and future generations. We want to make sure the needs of our venues and the people who depend on them get heard - and they get the help they need and deserve.

That includes getting the message across loud and clear to our politicians and all who have the power to make a big difference. But it also involves looking at what we can all do to try and make sure that these venues survive. Over the course of the campaign, we are looking at different aspects of our local arts scenes. This week we are focussing on community arts centres. And we want you to be involved too so please send us your stories and photos of your favourite venues.

In a joint statement, Annabel Turpin and Gavin Barlow, who co-chair the Future Arts Centres organisation, said: “Each pound invested in arts at local level generates up to £4 in return. Local arts centres and cultural organisations must be at the centre of plans as our towns and cit

Family show Mission ... Save the World has been performed at various arts centres across the country (photo: Lewis Wileman)

The Mill Arts Centre in Banbury was lit in red last month to highlight the plight of the industry