Aim:
To investigate the feasability of a defined 'arts and culture' centre based in Slaithwaite or Marsden.

Achievements to date:

• Feasibility study undertaken by Knight Kavanagh Page and Burns Collett to investigate the potential for locating an arts facility in the Valley (Reported May 2007). The key findings identified the critical risks and potential benefits from such a facility:
  Critical success factors:
  • a cohesive working group
  • the development of a suitable management vehicle
  • premises – potentially sub-let from anchor tenant
  • ; the potential for Yorkshire Forward to invest in a long lease property
  • match funding
  • long term sustainability

Targets for the next twelve months:

• Refine the discussion with the arts sector locally whether there is scope for a commercial/community based facility – and how to deliver.

The major challenges of the project to date have been:

• Developing a consensus on what such a facility might be/do/have – this is ongoing.
• Identifying revenue funding to support the development of the facility and sector – this is a critical success factor.

It will be difficult to make an economic case for public investment based on the work undertaken so far; need to explore other types of funding and models of operation.