Celebration in Chichester

Published: 12 July 2013
Reporter: Sheila Connor

Festival Theatre
Building Work in Progress

Local families are celebrating their involvement in a new project which explores the architecture and histories of Chichester Festival Theatre.

On 12 July, they were invited to the Festival Theatre to view their artwork which was installed on hoardings to launch Pass It On. This art installation is the first public event to take place within the Theatre’s three-year Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) community participation project to share its heritage.

In April, the families took part in art workshops in collaboration with PACSO (Parents and Carers Support Organisation), a local charity set up to meet the needs of families who have a disabled child. They produced a range of prints using theatre props and copies of material from the Festival Theatre archives. Their work was then woven into one large piece by local artist Rachel Johnston.

The art project has developed in association with two of Pass It On’s partners: PASCO and the University of Chichester Fine Art department, where Johnson is a senior lecturer.

The Theatre has received a grant of £1.2 million from the HLF to establish Pass It On in support of its RENEW project.

This extensive activity programme will provide public access to the Theatre’s records for the first time through archiving and digitisation, a touring exhibition, open days and youth theatre productions.

Sophie Shaw, the Festival Theatre’s Heritage Activities Manager said, “We are delighted to mark the start of the Pass It On project with this beautiful piece of artwork, which is the outcome of a very positive collaboration.

"We are greatly looking forward to working with a range of local groups, organisations and individuals in the weeks and months ahead to ensure that the local community are involved with the life of the project and out Theatre.”

The Heritage Lottery Fund sustains and transforms a wide range of heritage for present and future generations and the grant will support the restoration of the Grade II listed Festival Theatre building and help to deliver important restoration works to the roof, concrete, glazing and timber fascia and reinstate 100 seats in the balconies.

*Some links, including Amazon, Stageplays.com, ATG Tickets, LOVEtheatre, BTG Tickets, Ticketmaster, The Ticket Factory, LW Theatres and QuayTickets, are affiliate links for which BTG may earn a small fee at no extra cost to the purchaser.

Are you sure?