Dorchester Arts launch 'Bridge the Gap' fundraising appeal
The Corn Exchange needs your help to transform community arts in Dorset
Dorchester Arts have launched a Crowdfunder to 'Bridge the funding Gap' after losing a year's worth of income.
On March 16th 2020 most theatre's across the UK were forced to close their stage curtains due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
The Arts centre in Dorchester has been closed to audience members since then, but the future looks bright for them, with two new projects underway.
There are exciting plans in place for both the Corn Exchange and Thomas Hardye School but they need the funds to make the projects happen.
That's why they've launched 'Bridge the Gap' a fundraising campaign to help fill the financial gaps lost due to Covid.
Artistic director Mark Tattershall says the team have got some creative events and performance planned for the summer.
He told Greatest Hits Radio Dorset:
"We have decided to stay closed for indoor performances this summer because of building works. Closing when we did helped us weather the pandemic storm, and we are looking forward to bringing outdoor events to Dorchester this summer and then reopening fully in September.
"The summer season is going to be hugely popular as people can't go to indoor shows or at least if they did there may still be some restrictions in place.
"The programme will be announced in the coming weeks but a lot of them are going to take place at Maumbury Rings."
ONLINE FUNDRAISING
So far, £7000 has been raised and over 100 people have kindly donated to the Arts Centre's fundraising campaign.
In total Dorchester Arts need to raise £20,000 but the good news is that funding allocated to The Maltings Project (Which was sadly abandoned last year) is being transferred to the new multi venue project.
The Corn Exchange will have new seating, new lighting and new sound. The team are working on a plan to reconfigure the building in a bigger way to make it a hub for the whole community.
With that money, the Arts Centre will also be refurbishing the theatre at Thomas Hardye school, turning it in to a 400 seater venue.
Mark said the money raised so far, shows how much people want the arts back in their lives.
"I think watching that first show, hearing the first audience applaud is going to be a really, really emotional moment fur us, it's going to be a big moment.
"It has been a very tough year, not just for us but for everybody, we just hope the summer performances will bring people back together after this dreadful year we've had."