News Date: Tuesday 6th March 2007
Ropetackle Arts and Education Centre is now open!
The new Ropetackle Arts and Education Centre in Shoreham opened its doors for the first time last Thursday and the Ropetackle Centre Trust board hosted a reception for sponsors and potential customers of the new facility. Over 150 guests filled the centre and listened to a series of presentations including a short film made by pupils of Buckingham School, live music and irreverent sketches by comedians from the Komedia's Treason Show. Trust Chairman Tim Loughton outlined the board's plans for the Centre which will be undergoing a fit-out soon with around ?180,00 raised so far but more funding needed. In particular the Trust need to raise a further ?10,000 to match a grant from the UK Film Council to purchase a new digital projector so that a programme of film can be started as soon as possible.
Board Director Martin Allen gave a run down of business sponsorship opportunities and the events that will be held at the Centre under the marquee series as part of the Adur Arts Festival. Founder director Geoff Howitt updated the audience on progress with the Friends of the Ropetackle Centre which now has over 300 members and will be holding its first AGM at the end of April. The Trust has also agreed a tie up with conference organiser Centrevents whose boss Geoff Hodgson was on hand to give details of conference packages which will be available.
Adur Chief Executive Ian Lowrie wound up the presentations by paying tribute to the long term dedication of the trust members which after more than 6 years hard work was now seeing its work come to fruition and the partnership with Adur Council promised to be a very exciting and positive one for the regeneration of Shoreham and the benefit of the wider Adur community.
Tim Loughton commented:
"This was a great start to the life of the Ropetackle Centre and we look forward to welcoming as many people through our doors as soon as our fit-out and fund raising allows. We will be holding open days for residents to come and have a look around in April and of course the Friends of Ropetackle will be invited to specific events shortly. The Ropetackle Centre is really helping to put Adur on the map so Brighton and Chichester had better watch out.'
ENDS
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