Resilient Theatres: Resilient Communities Grant Programme
The programme aims to achieve progress with the restoration, reopening or revitalising those theatres on Theatres Trust’s Theatres at Risk Register through funding towards commissioning expert support.
Resilient Theatres: Resilient Communities is our new capacity building programme for the theatre sector. Through the project, we aim to enrich the knowledge, skills and confidence of the cultural heritage sector, but specifically communities considering or already taking over a theatre building, thereby reducing the threat to ‘at risk’ theatres and leading to greater sector resilience.
Generously supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the Swire Charitable Trust and the Pilgrim Trust, the programme aims to achieve progress with the restoration, reopening or revitalising those theatres on Theatres Trust’s Theatres at Risk Register through funding towards commissioning expert support.
This grants programme is open to those theatres on our Theatres at Risk Register, and the community and campaign groups that support them. Local authorities who are currently involved in projects to support their local Theatre at Risk or who have a clear plans and ambitions to progress such a project are also eligible for funding.
This is not a fund that will support the capital works themselves but is intended to support the groups working with the buildings to acquire the skills and knowledge to push the project forwards.
The type of support that might be funded includes:
- Viability studies and options appraisals
- Building condition surveys and structural reports
- Business planning and fundraising strategies
- Economic impact studies
- Governance reviews
- Heritage statements
- Audience development plans
- Archival research or collecting people’s memories (oral history collection) or ephemera related to the theatre
Theatres Trust will work closely with the successful applicants to develop the project proposal, assist the group to select experts, attend key meetings and monitor the outcomes.
We will accept applications from £5,000 up to a maximum of £20,000 (although it is likely the majority of grant awards will be up to around £10,000). Theatres Trust will agree the level of funding that the scheme will contribute; the grant amount awarded may be different to that requested. Match funding is not required, however, should your project cost exceed the Resilient Theatres: Resilient Communities grant proof of partnership funding will be required.
Who can apply
Eligibility: Works that are eligible for funding include the following: viability studies, business plans, economic impact studies, conditions surveys (including asbestos surveys), governance reviews, audience development plans, archival research etc.
Organisational set-up: Organisations must have UK charitable or not-for-profit legal structure to apply. Local authorities are also eligible.
Ownership: It is not necessary for recipients to own or lease the theatre building, however it is necessary to have a specific ambition for the removal of the building from the Theatres at Risk Register through the restoration / reopening of the venue. Permission from the owner to undertake the project is also required, where necessary.
Prioritisation: Projects will be prioritised according to:
- The urgency of the project
- Being ‘at risk’ (i.e. on our Theatres at Risk Register) and the extent to which the grant will make a significant difference to promoting the better protection of the theatre – those that are considered to have the most impact in realising a fundamental step towards removal of the theatre from the Theatres at Risk register will be prioritised
- Being of heritage value – including whether the building is formally listed or locally listed
- Being in an area of economic deprivation
- Of community value – demonstrating there is significant local support for the building
- In danger of becoming ‘at risk’.
For further information about eligibility and the terms and conditions for this funding please review our Appendix C – Contract Terms and Conditions.
Submitting your application
The scheme will open again in 2024.
Read about the successful recipients of the first rounnd.
Thanks to our funders
Resilient Theatres: Resilient Communities is generously supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the Pilgrim Trust and Swire Charitable Trust.
