ACT has conceded that its plans to build a £6 million theatre in Thornbury are not financially viable given a substantial shortfall in operating costs now calculated to be in excess of £250,000 per annum (ACT Press Statement, January 2013). Probably sound judgement in the current economic climate, since I suspect that a large number of Thornbury folk would be less than keen to pay £1 per week per household in order to subsidise theatre performances for visitors from outside the town.
It is nice to see in the press release that:
"............... ACT will continue to operate. We have decided to focus on supporting the Arts in Thornbury and the surrounding area. Over the next few months we will develop our ideas into plans on how to implement this new initiative, possibly by way of ACT becoming a Charitable Foundation that donates to worthy causes, arts related. We expect to continue with a number of events that have proved to be popular, as well as being successful fundraisers."The report in the Thornbury Gazette omits any reference to this positive outcome - perhaps two pages were one too many for the reporter to read or will the good news be trumpeted in the next issue?
It was good to see ACT suggesting that locals should throw their weight behind fund raising for the Armstrong Hall changing rooms although many of us have been doing just that in recognition of the urgent need to upgrade these facilities. Perhaps ACT might consider a donation from its funds? And finally, I am left wondering how much ACT has spent over the years on professional fees for their many advisers and how this might have been more productively spent. Presumably some accounts have been or will be published somewhere, sometime?
