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Funding setback for theatre plans Funding setback for theatre plans
(about 1 hour later)
The multi-million pound revamp of a Kent theatre has suffered a setback with potential funding being diverted to the 2012 Olympics in London.The multi-million pound revamp of a Kent theatre has suffered a setback with potential funding being diverted to the 2012 Olympics in London.
The Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury has been housed in a 1920s cinema building for nearly 25 years.The Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury has been housed in a 1920s cinema building for nearly 25 years.
Canterbury City Council is looking to add a significant amount of outside money to its own £9m investment, but an Arts Council grant has fallen through. Canterbury City Council wants to add extra money to its own £9m investment. However, the Arts Council has lost some of its lottery funding to the Olympics.
But it said it had its "fingers crossed" for other funding sources. The city council said it had "fingers crossed" for other funding sources.
"The council has always been hugely positive about this project and we really, really want it to go ahead," said chief executive Colin Carmichael."The council has always been hugely positive about this project and we really, really want it to go ahead," said chief executive Colin Carmichael.
'Positive conversations''Positive conversations'
But he admitted the loss of Arts Council money had come as a blow to the Marlowe project. But he admitted that not being able to get money from the Arts Council had come as a blow to the Marlowe project.
"We were hoping for a substantial contribution, but it seems some of their cash if not all of it has gone towards the Olympics now."We were hoping for a substantial contribution, but it seems some of their cash if not all of it has gone towards the Olympics now.
The council said the current theatre building was not up to scratchThe council said the current theatre building was not up to scratch
"There are other places that we're looking, in fact we're having very positive conversations at the moment with Kent County Council (KCC) and the South East England Development Agency (Seeda).""There are other places that we're looking, in fact we're having very positive conversations at the moment with Kent County Council (KCC) and the South East England Development Agency (Seeda)."
Councillors have said £9m would only be enough to bring the Marlowe Theatre's "current facilities up to standard".Councillors have said £9m would only be enough to bring the Marlowe Theatre's "current facilities up to standard".
Architect Keith Williams' plans are for a completely remodelled 21st Century theatre, with only the fly tower and the shell of the current building remaining.Architect Keith Williams' plans are for a completely remodelled 21st Century theatre, with only the fly tower and the shell of the current building remaining.
Mr Carmichael said he believed the start of refurbishment works was still on course for the end of 2008, but funding clarification from KCC and Seeda in the New Year would provide "a bit more certainty about this".Mr Carmichael said he believed the start of refurbishment works was still on course for the end of 2008, but funding clarification from KCC and Seeda in the New Year would provide "a bit more certainty about this".