COUNCILLORS have approved a business plan for the Scala but are worried about rising construction costs.
The arts centre has been hailed as an important new venue by city council leader Lynn Denham, who said it would be “a centre for creativity where everyone feels welcome”.
Cllr Denham’s comments came after the council’s Policy and Resources committee last night (30 July) approved the document that sets out how the Angel Street venue will be run.
It also allocated extra funding to the project - £300,000 to get the Scala up and running, including setting up the charity that will run the venue, and £150,000 a year to help keep it running for the first couple of years after it opens in autumn 2026.
Cllr Denham said: “Scala will bring something new to Worcester, not compete with the entertainment offer that we already have in our city.
“This has helped us reach the point where we can establish Scala as an important new venue for Worcester.
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“The previous Government awarded us money to purchase and convert the building, but provided no support for its running costs.
“Thanks to our collaborative approach, we now have a business plan that can bring these historic buildings back to live as a centre for creativity where everyone feels welcome.”
Cllr Karen Lewing said: “This business case is a culmination of effort by so many people. When you go round and see a crumbling building, that requires a huge belief in what you’re looking at and aiming for.”
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But she added: “I am hugely concerned about the construction costs. I hope construction costs nationally are going to start coming down and will benefit us. I hope the construction team will be looking for best value at every opportunity.”
Managing director David Blake added: “We’re all sitting here on slightly nervous tenterhooks waiting to see what budget’s going to come in terms of construction costs.”
A ‘Creative Consortium’ of arts and cultural organisations - Dancefest, Severn Arts, C&T, The Kiln, Mobilise Arts and Vestan - helped the city council develop the business plan.
Paul Sutton of C&T, chair of the Creative Consortium, said: “Scala won’t just be a place to celebrate local creative talent and communities, it will also welcome artists from across our region, the UK and abroad. It will be a place that celebrates a host of diverse and vibrant artists from across the performing, visual and digital arts.”
Planning permission for the work to the former Scala cinema and Corn Exchange was approved in March. The council is currently in the process of appointing a contractor to carry out the work, with a decision expected to be made in September.
The business plan can be found at scalaworcester.co.uk, where you can also sign up for updates on the Scala project
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