Redevelopment Latest News

Scottish Arts Council

award over £11 million of

National Lottery funding

to four new arts buildings

Greenock Arts Guild to

receive - £2,685,540

This investment will support the replacement of the existing Greenock Arts Guild building with a new modern theatre and arts centre in a more central and prominent site in the re-developing harbour area at Greenock, in partnership with Inverclyde Council and Riverside Inverclyde

Commenting on the award John Phillips, Chairman of the Greenock Arts Guild, said:

This is wonderful news for Inverclyde and it makes all the effort that went into planning and negotiation, over many years, worthwhile.

This must represent the single biggest investment by the National Lottery in Inverclyde and will play a major part in the re-development of the waterfront by providing an outstanding leisure and cultural facility for the people of Inverclyde and beyond.

I would like to thank all of my colleagues and our partners, Inverclyde Council and Riverside Inverclyde, without whose help, hard work and advice, this outcome could not have been achieved.

We still have to raise around 16% of the total project budget of £8.7m but I am confident that with the continued support of the local folk and businesses we will have a wonderful new theatre and arts centre fit for the 21st Century

Iain Munro, Co-Director of Arts, Scottish Arts Council said

“Greenock Arts Guild is to be commended for delivering a wide range of arts activity in Inverclyde over the last 60 years. This new contemporary, purpose built facility represents a major component of the plans for the regeneration of the waterfront and the local area. It will provide an exciting new platform for the Guild and partners to offer an increased range of high quality arts activities and present even more opportunities for the people of Inverclyde to see and take part in them.

The Scottish Arts Council is delighted to support this important project with Lottery funds and we look forward to a further 60 years of exciting arts activity.

Congratulations to all the partners involved.”

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Theatre Receives £150,000 Award

Greenock Arts Guild is delighted to announce that it has taken one step closer to its new waterfront home with a significant award of £150,000 from The Robertson Trust.

The new theatre will be a beacon for the arts in Inverclyde, committed to serving the local community and offering the very best in drama, music and comedy.

The theatre will have two performing spaces - a studio theatre (130 seats) and a main auditorium (500 seats) together with ancillary rehearsal rooms, a cafe and bar. It will be set in sunken gardens and have spectacular views across the new marinas proposed for East India and Victoria Harbours. This landmark building has been designed by LDN Architects LLP who have worked on a wide range of theatre projects including the Pitlochry Festival Theatre and the Edinburgh Festival Theatre.

The award from The Robertson Trust is to assist with the funding of the studio theatre which will be the Guild’s focus for its major new Youth Education initiative. It will also be a centre for innovation, showcasing the work of local up and coming writers, actors, comedians and musicians.

It is envisaged that the project will start on site later this year with completion scheduled for March 2010.

The view from the stage

Despite the generous awards received, if the Guild is to become a centre of excellence for the arts in Inverclyde we still face the challenging task of raising the balance.

We value YOUR help in achieving this vision and need you to consider how you can play your part in this exciting project !!!

Your help will make this happen!