Thanet

Operators were asked to comment on the Theatre Royal in Margate’s plans.

7 months ago

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Thanet District Council has launched the search for a new operator for the Theatre Royal Margate, in line with its vision for the historic theatre, which combines heritage, performance and a move towards financial sustainability. The ambitious project focuses on the Theatre Royal Margate’s 245 years of performance heritage, bringing together the need to conserve, restore and modernise both the theatre and the building at 19 Hawley Square. The ambition is to create a nationally significant performing arts hub in Margate; the plans are designed to increase the artistic and financial opportunities to support the historic theatre and to raise the profile of performing arts in the district. Thanet District Council is now seeking to engage with potential operators, to test the market and to help inform its procurement exercise for the Theatre Royal Margate operating model. The council would like to hear from: Existing operators of theatres and other similar arts and entertainment venues Performing arts organisations seeking to expand and/or relocate to operate the theatre Smaller organisations and/or small groups and consortia interested in becoming part of a new organisation to operate the theatre The successful operator will be expected to operate all functions within the venue for a period of at least 10 years. These are expected to include venue programming, ticketing, event promotion and management, hospitality, backstage and technical and facilities management. When appointed, the operator will need to provide high quality and imaginative programmes, marketing and audience development proposals, maintenance proposals and an investment or fundraising programme. In addition, they will be required to submit ideas to develop educational programmes, outreach work and other community activities, to support fundraising and project development. A questionnaire will help to inform the council’s understanding of the market and confirm whether this opportunity is of interest to relevant and experienced organisations. Alongside questions about the type and size of the organisation responding, further questions are included around the feasibility of the vision, potential programming and the resources operators will require (external funding and investment) to support the project. Interested operators or local consortia are invited to complete a pre-engagement questionnaire by 5pm on Wednesday 24 January 2024. Details explaining how to register can be found on the council’s website. At this stage, this is a market-testing exercise and not a call for competition. The Theatre Royal project has been allocated £2.2m of funding as part of the £22.2m Margate Town Deal programme of regeneration in the town. In addition, the council is seeking funding to invest up to £5 million in the fabric of the building. An application is in process for a further £3.2m from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and the council is in conversation with the Arts Council regarding the possibility of applying to the Department of Culture Media and Sport’s Cultural Development Fund, which will be launched in 2024. The successful operator will be expected to participate in planning the scale and scope of the works to the buildings. To facilitate this there will be a development phase of around two years, prior to the full operator agreements being in place. There will be no direct long term subsidy, but the council is making a significant contribution in the form of a building adjacent to the theatre (19 Hawley Square) to be used for creative and income-generating purposes. It is estimated that this building could contribute considerable income to boost the financial viability of the theatre operations. Cllr Ruth Duckworth, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Property, said: “Our ambitious plans for the Theatre Royal and 19 Hawley Square provide a unique opportunity for an established theatre operator or consortium to work with us to redevelop the theatre. “We are looking for an operator with the vision and experience to partner with us to build on the theatre’s impressive pedigree, providing a real hub for performing arts in Thanet. I look forward to seeing how the project progresses – I am confident that the Theatre Royal Margate has a bright future ahead.” Initial plans for the Theatre Royal Margate and 19 Hawley Square will be shown for the first time at a public event at the theatre on Thursday 7 December 2023. Local residents and stakeholders are invited to provide their feedback on the project via an online survey on Your Voice Thanet. The survey closes at 4pm on Wednesday 20 December and the plans can be viewed on the council’s website. Further information on the Theatre Royal project and the Margate Town Deal regeneration programme can be viewed on the council’s website.

In order to realize its vision for the historic theater, which combines heritage, performance, and a shift toward financial sustainability, the Thanet District Council has started looking for new owners of the Theatre Royal Margate. &nbsp,

The ambitious project, which combines the need to preserve, restore, and modernize both the theater and the structure at 19 Hawley Square, focuses on the Theatre Royal Margate’s 245 years of performance heritage. The plans are intended to increase the artistic and financial opportunities to support the historic theater and to raise the profile of performing arts in the district. The goal is to establish Margate as a nationally significant center for the performance arts.

In order to test the market and inform its procurement process for the Theatre Royal Margate operating model, Thanet District Council is currently looking to speak with potential operators. &nbsp,

&nbsp, would like to speak with the council.

existing theater owners and other comparable venues for the arts and entertainment
Performing arts organizations looking to grow and/or move to run the theater&nbsp,
Smaller organizations, or small groups and consortia, are interested in joining a new organization that will run the theater.

The successful operator will be required to manage every aspect of the facility for at least ten years. The following are anticipated: venue programming, ticketing, event management and promotion, hospitality, backstage and technical and facilities management. &nbsp,

When hired, the operator must offer programs of the highest caliber and originality, as well as suggestions for audience development, marketing, maintenance, and investment or fundraising. In order to support fundraising and project development, they will also be required to submit ideas for educational programs, outreach initiatives, and other community activities.

In order to determine whether relevant and seasoned organizations are interested in this opportunity, a questionnaire will be used to help the council better understand the market. The feasibility of the vision, potential programming, and the resources operators will need ( external funding and investment ) to support the project are also questions, along with questions about the type and size of organizations responding. &nbsp,

By&nbsp, 5 p.m. on Wednesday, January 24, 2024, interested operators or local consortia are invited to complete a pre-engagement questionnaire. The council’s website has information on how to register. At this point, this is a market-testing exercise rather than an invitation to compete.

As part of the town’s regeneration program, the Theatre Royal project has been given £2.2 million in funding. Additionally, the council is looking for funding to spend up to £5 million on the building’s foundation. The National Lottery Heritage Fund is currently submitting an application for an additional £3.2 million, and the council and Arts Council are discussing the possibility of applying for the 2024-launched Cultural Development Fund of the Department of Culture Media and Sport. &nbsp,

It is anticipated that the successful operator will take part in the planning of the building works ‘ scope and scale. Prior to the full operator agreements being in place, there will be a development phase of about two years to facilitate this. &nbsp,

There wo n’t be any direct long-term funding, but the council is making a sizable contribution by building next to the theater ( 19 Hawley Square ), which will be used for artistic and financial gain. It is anticipated that this structure could generate a sizable income to increase the theater operations ‘ financial viability. &nbsp,

Our ambitious plans for the Theatre Royal and 19 Hawley Square offer a rare opportunity for an established theater operator or consortium to collaborate with us to redevelop the theater, according to Cllr. Ruth Duckworth, cabinet member for regeneration and property.

” To build on the theater’s impressive pedigree and create a true hub for performing arts in Thanet, we are looking for an operator with the vision and experience to partner with us.” I’m interested in seeing how the project develops because I think the Theatre Royal Margate has a promising future.

On Thursday, December 7, 2023, the Theatre Royal Margate and 19 Hawley Square’s initial plans will be displayed for the first time at a public event at the theater. Stakeholders and locals are encouraged to offer their opinions on the project by completing an online survey on Your Voice Thanet. On Wednesday, December 20, the survey closes at 4 p.m., and the plans can be found on the council’s website. &nbsp,

The council’s website has more details about the Theatre Royal project and the Margate Town Deal regeneration program. &nbsp,