The Carnegie Theatre is based in Workington town centre.
During 2021 the Carnegie Theatre Trust undertook a suite of analysis and research to understand who the audiences were and what the local need from a community venue like the Carnegie was. Alongside understanding audiences and their needs we commissioned a full condition survey of the Grade II Listed building alongside a feasibility study / options appraisal to create more usable and accessible spaces better serving our identified audiences. The condition survey and feasibility study/options appraisal complimented a fundraising plan the trust also had commissioned. The Carnegie therefore has a plan to take forward to support it’s continued development. All research work was funded through the Sellafield Social Impact Multiplied (six) programme.
Now it is time to implement the recommendations but they need help to do it. This is a great opportunity for businesses and individuals to get involved with your community and develop your own skills in the meantime.
Attached is a table that lists all of the tasks the Carnegie would like to implement. They have been prioritised, categorised and a note made if funding is available for tasks that involve materials.
The categories of skills include:
Legal Support
Maintenance (labour)
Marketing
Project Management
Quality
Risk
Training
IT
Commercial
Health & Safety
Their purpose as set out in their new business plan is an exciting one and one that will emerge the Carnegie from the pandemic in a whole new direction, formed through the research described above to enrich, inspire, educate, and entertain through a diverse programme of theatre, music, performance, and culture. The community objectives are to promote and advance the arts, in particular the performing arts, and to promote and advance education through the development and delivery of creative learning programmes. Helping to shape the place we live.
The Carnegie is already a venue rooted in it’s locality, at the heart of it’s community. Cumbria Intelligence Observatory reports several wards, which fall in our direct catchment area have multiple deprivation needs and typically have low cultural engagement opportunities, if not for the work of the Carnegie. Providing these communities with an outlet to engage, develop and connect with arts, culture and heritage, presenting a relatable and most importantly affordable offer to encourage participation.
Our focus is on West Cumbrian audiences. Young People a key target and our plan includes an offer based on age and needs. We are already an accredited arts awards centre, enriching cultural creativity through our accredited Arts Awards Music Centre. We want to take this further and therefore our audience development strategy seeks to deliver a programme to the local community that meets the needs, interests and passions of:
- children and families aged 5-11
- young people, aged 11-16 years
- young people, aged 16-25 years
- local, entertainment-driven adults
- other audiences such as local creatives and art-attenders, and third sector organisations delivering health and wellbeing programmes.