The business case for the Pyramid Arts Centre’s £4.9m refurbishment programme of works will now be submitted to the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC).

As stated in the Town Deal cabinet report, the Pyramid’s mission is to attract, retain and develop creative talent, cementing itself as a place where arts and culture can be created, nurtured and enjoyed. Submitting the business case for the Remastered Cultural Hub at the Pyramid and unlocking the allocated Town Deal funding will therefore ensure it is a place for people to:

• Create - Local and regional artists and creatives will use spaces to test, rehearse, collaborate and produce new work as well as use spaces to present, perform, exhibit and sell their work
• Participate - Formal and informal workshops (schools, community groups, all ages and abilities) will help to develop new skills, initiate social change and create pathways into the creative industries
• Experience – People will be able to watch, listen and enjoy high-quality arts and culture
• Connect – The Pyramid will be a place for people to discover, meet, socialise, work and collaborate

Comprehensive refurbishment works

Using the £4.9m Town Deal allocation, subject to the business case being accepted by DLUHC, extensive improvements will be made to Pyramid Arts Centre.

This will include improvements to external and internal signage, accessibility enhancements, acoustic improvements to help reduce sound bleed between spaces, IT and technical developments, enhancements to daytime and evening food and drink options - including a second bar - and developing flexible spaces for galleries, exhibitions, presentations, performances and meetings.

The funding would also allow for expansive improvements to the main performance space in the exhibition hall, increasing seating and standing capacity.

Maureen Banner, Chair of Culture Warrington, said: “These long-awaited, far reaching and ambitious plans will transform Pyramid into a cultural and entertainment hub for Warrington and a destination for people across the north west. The arts centre, and sister venue to Parr Hall, is already a fantastic asset to the town centre with its diverse programme of live events and as a space for exhibitions, rehearsals, workshops, classes and group meetings. But this major refurbishment will take Pyramid to a whole new level.

“Every part and function of the building will be carefully updated and the plans will allow us to reach and serve more people of all ages and backgrounds. We are particularly excited about the revamp of the performance space in the exhibition hall. This will allow us to host bigger live events at Pyramid and bring more up-and-coming bands and artists to Warrington.”

Cllr Maureen McLaughlin, cabinet member for culture, said: “The remastered Pyramid will be a cultural game-changer for Warrington and will help us to build on our ambitions for culture across the borough.

“We want the Pyramid to be a vibrant environment where people can experience and participate in high-quality arts and culture, as well as it being a go-to venue full of dynamic space for creatives and arts professionals to experiment and produce new work across all art forms.

“These enhancements will mean that the Pyramid will be a local and regional cultural destination that will inspire future generations of people who enjoy and participate in the arts – which will also positively impact the wellbeing of our communities.”

For more information about the Remastered Cultural Hub, or any of the seven key Warrington Town Deal projects, visit warrington.gov.uk/my-town