Coventry North West MP Taiwo Owatemi has joined the board of trustees of the city’s Albany Theatre, offering her skills and knowledge to help it through its next stages of development.
She said, “I was blown away with the scale of what the team at the Albany has achieved in 10 years since its formation as a charitable trust. The theatre’s artistic vision closely reflects my core goals as an MP within the community and it was a no-brainer for me to offer myself as a representative to support the trust.”
Chair of the Albany Theatre Trust David Meredith commented, “in July 2020 we were thrilled to welcome Zarah Sultana, MP for Coventry South, onto our board and we’ve been incredibly fortunate in the support she’s given us since.
“To have Taiwo join us as a trustee is remarkable. Strangely enough, half of our venue falls into Zarah’s constituency and half into Taiwo’s, so it’s logical and appropriate that both MPs, each passionate about the arts, are offering direct support for the Albany. To have the representation of such strong young women on our board is invaluable.”
Early in 2021, the Albany announced a £2.908 million capital redevelopment project, funded by Coventry City Council and Coventry UK City of Culture 2021, that will lead to the theatre’s gaining three new studios, improvements to the existing studio theatre and improved audience and community facilities.