Exeter Phoenix wins Arts Council funding

Exeter Phoenix is to receive £320,745 from the Arts Council’s Capital funding programme to revamp the building’s facilities and develop their digital resources to enhance audience experiences.

They are one of five organisations in the south west that have been awarded a total of £1.25 million towards developing the sustainability and resilience of their buildings in the third round of Arts Council England’s small scale Capital funding scheme.

The Phoenix will use their grant to undertake a range of enhancements to the building’s infrastructure that will increase capacity in the main auditorium, increase hospitality space and upgrade digital facilities.

Phil Gibby, Area Director, South West, Arts Council England, said: "This award will help Exeter Phoenix carry out a programme of improvements that will have a real impact on their future resilience as well as giving audience areas a much-needed upgrade.

"By investing funds through our Capital programme, we are helping to secure the future of the organisation."

The other four venues receiving awards in the south west are Salisbury Playhouse in Wiltshire; New Brewery Arts in Gloucestershire; Newlyn Art Gallery and The Exchange in Cornwall; and Watershed Arts Trust in Bristol. The grants will be used innovatively to increase the environmental performance of the organisation’s buildings and equipment to support reduction in carbon emission and ensure a higher quality of work for audiences.

Since 1994 we have supported Capital developments with £1.5 billion of Lottery funding.

This investment has supported an unprecedented number of building projects, both as refurbishments and extensions to existing arts buildings, and entirely new buildings in places where access and engagement in the arts was limited. Our investment has changed the arts infrastructure of England and resulted in improved experiences for both artists and the public.

Over the period 2015-18, our Capital investment will prioritise the consolidation and improvement of the existing arts infrastructure, rather than investing in significant expansion or new buildings. We will support organisations to develop resilience by having the right buildings and equipment to deliver their work and become more sustainable and innovative businesses. This includes increasing the environmental performance of buildings and equipment to support a reduction in carbon emissions.