Northampton’s Royal and Derngate and The Core at Corby Cube have been awarded a total of £368,761 by Arts Council England to help with their ongoing programme of essential improvements.
The Core at Corby Cube will receive £148,761 to upgrade its Lab studio, improving facilities for visitors and becoming more environmentally friendly.
Retractable, raked seating will be fitted in the Lab. There will be new dressing rooms and a low-energy LED lighting rig will be installed to make it more energy efficient and environmentally sustainable.
Royal and Derngate has been awarded £220,000 to continue a programme of upgrading and improving the Royal auditorium. The money will allow the theatre to install an energy-saving lighting rig in the stage area, helping to reduce the organisation’s carbon footprint. Sound equipment will be replaced.
Jo Gordon, chief executive of both Royal and Derngate and The Core, commented, “we’re delighted that Arts Council England has committed to supporting these two projects which are both vital to the future sustainability and environmental impact of our organisations.
“In Northampton, we have an important role as custodians of our historic Royal theatre and this funding is a real boost to the ongoing process of modernising our equipment and helping to ensure it’s fit for a successful future.
“At The Core, the work in the Lab will give us so much more flexibility which will not only enhance our programming but enable us to make an increased commitment to supporting local artists.”