South Hill Park Arts Centre Today
In 2002 South Hill Park underwent its most recent transformation, successfully applying to the Arts Council of England National Lottery Board and gaining £3 million combined with £1 million from Bracknell Forest Borough Council. These funds allowed the Mansion spaces to re-develop and focus on artistic activity. New studios were created for ceramics, printmaking, silversmithing and fine arts to complement the existing theatres, gallery, dance studio, cinema, recital room and cellar stage. The Atrium bar was opened, allowing food and drink to be served alongside the art and music performances. The artist Martin Donlin created several artworks to the celebrate the new building.
In 2004, the Digital Media Centre opened allowing an inventive digital media programme to add a modern dynamic to the venue programme, thanks to the support of local businessman, John Nike. In 2011, Bracknell Forest Borough Council undertook a £4.4 million restoration of South Hill Park's historic grounds with funding from a National Lottery grant award.
South Hill Park today is a prominent centre for the arts within the South East region and nationally. The multi award winning actress Kate Winslet, who is also a Patron of the centre, has said of it "The Wilde Theatre has been a wonderful home for theatre arts since it opened more than 25 years ago... This amazing centre does so much for its local community". The centre’s other Patrons are the former Poet Laureate Andrew Motion and multi award winning actor Kenneth Branagh.
South Hill Park has a varied programme of events which includes theatre, dance, music, exhibitions, comedy, live art, festivals and cinema for all age groups, featuring a range of personalities from the internationally renowned to emerging new talents. It is open 364 days a year and presents approximately 3,000 events annually.
It has four associate theatre companies who tour work nationally - Blackeyed Theatre, Icarus Theatre Collective, Original Theatre Company and Peut-être. It has two associate dance companies who also tour nationally - James Wilton and Jean Abreu Dance.
It houses five artists in residence covering different disciplines - ceramicist Adam Marsh, Jewellers Machi de Waard and Bev Bartlett, printmakers Chris Smith and Holly Drewett.
South Hill Park runs an extensive programme of courses in the arts - over 2000 annually, alongside around 250 individual workshops. It is a registered charity and its activity attracts an average 250,000 visitors a year.
In the 2011, Arts Council England National Portfolio review of funded organisations, the Centre was not included in the selection of organisations judged to be of regionally strategic significance. Arts Council England funding is to be withdrawn completely from April 2013. Amid harsh criticism, the management is faced with the task of attempting to find a new direction and transform the organisation into a more commercial and financially sustainable enterprise.
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