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Wycombe Arts Centre receives £18,000 development grant from the Rothschild Foundation

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MONDAY 17th MAY 2021

Wycombe Arts Centre receives £18,000 development grant from the Rothschild Foundation

Wycombe Arts Centre has been awarded an £18,000 development by the Rothschild Foundation as part of its COVID-19 Support Fund.

The Rothschild Foundation COVID-19 Support Fund aims to support Buckinghamshire-based third sector organisations that have been adversely affected by COVID-19. To be eligible for the grant, organisations needed to provide a service to residents in Buckinghamshire, and funding was prioritised for Charities and Community Interest Companies (CICs) that were limited by guarantee.

Wycombe Arts Centre is the community arts centre and creative hub for High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. A registered charity, it’s been serving High Wycombe and the surrounding areas since 2010 by hosting arts, theatre and music events in its cosy Café Space and magnificent converted Victorian church, the Theatre Space.

The Arts Centre is also a hub for local creatives and has been involved in a number of community projects including the street gallery on Desborough Road and the White Hart St. Mural in the town centre. During lockdown, partner charity Social Link – which helps to foster independence and social inclusion amongst adults with learning disabilities – worked with previous funding from the Rothschild Foundation to revitalise the gardens so that they could be opened up to the local community.

This new grant from the COVID-19 Support Fund will allow Wycombe Arts Centre to continue to develop its outdoor areas to host COVID-safe events throughout the summer and autumn of 2021. It will also allow Wycombe Arts Centre to continue to invest in its infrastructure and technical capabilities and to provide greater accessibility to visitors of all demographics, including by improving access to ramps and covered walkways.

Selected upcoming events at Wycombe Arts Centre include:

Ruth Gunstone, Wycombe Arts Centre manager/trustee, said:

After a very difficult period, we’re absolutely delighted to have received a COVID-19 Support Fund grant from the Rothschild Foundation. This generous award will help us to further improve our garden space, with help from our partners at Social Link, as an attractive third venue. We’re also investing in some important digital infrastructure to enable us to operate more smoothly as we emerge from the second national lockdown and move forward. This timely award will enable us to make much needed improvements which will provide huge benefits to the Arts Centre community.

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS

About the Rothschild Foundation:

The Rothschild Foundation is a charity supporting arts and heritage, the environment and social welfare by awarding grants, fostering dialogue and debate, and through their support of Waddesdon Manor. Their primary aim is to support and promote Waddesdon Manor for the benefit of the general public. Beyond this, they seek to support arts and heritage, the environment and general social welfare projects in the area local to Waddesdon.

The Rothschild Foundation is an independent charity with an expendable endowment. They were established by Lord (Jacob) Rothschild to maintain and promote Waddesdon Manor and to further the Rothschild family’s charitable aims. You can find out more on their website.

About Wycombe Arts Centre:

Wycombe Arts Centre is…

… the name of the collaborative arts centre based at the former St John’s Church buildings in High Wycombe Town Centre on Desborough Road.

… a set of unique ‘for hire’ spaces that we call the Cafe Space and the Theatre Space (an amazing Grade 2 listed building), specialising in alternative arts events.

… an open collective of local people who are inspired by creativity, including  musicians, artists, theatre groups and more!

… the brand name of Wycombe Community Arts Centre Ltd (registered charity no. 1136161).

… funded by events and hires, run mainly by volunteers and supported by Buckinghamshire Council, who own the buildings.