News

The Trustees of the Cornwall Theatre Company, which owns and runs The Acorn Arts Centre in Penzance, on 10th May 2010 took the decision to close the Acorn from 31st August 2010.

The following statement was issued by the trustees:

This decision has been taken with enormous regret but has become unavoidable given that the charity would not be financially viable beyond that date and therefore unable to pay its staff and its overhead costs. By setting a date for closure in advance, the trustees will be able to guarantee employment to the staff until the end of August and meet our present obligations with regard to staff, ticket holders and hirers.

We are keen to emphasise that the currently advertised programme at the Acorn, and the summer season in Penlee Park, will be unaffected. In fact, the Acorn is keen to encourage the public to continue to support the Acorn by booking for the planned events through to the end of August.

The Acorn has been operating with a small annual deficit for a number of years and has only been able to sustain itself by rigorously controlling its expenditure and working to secure as much income as possible. Over the past five years the charity has reduced its borrowing significantly, secured one-off project grants from Arts Council England [ACE] and annual grants from Cornwall Council and Penzance Town Council. It has also presented a successful programme of events which have produced good box office returns and bar takings. However, the charity has always been close to the edge financially as the only grant that contributes directly to the running costs of the venue is the annual grant received from Cornwall Council. The grant from Penzance Town Council supports the Penlee Park Outdoor Season and all funding secured from ACE has been granted only for newly-devised specific projects and not as a contribution towards the operating costs. However, we would like to thank the officers of both organisations for their encouragement and support. This funding situation has meant a "hand-to-mouth" existence which is simply no longer viable.

Trustees and staff have, for many months, been exploring numerous options to meet the charity's cashflow challenges but in our view, there is no likelihood of increasing revenues in the current economic climate. This year, we requested a larger grant from Cornwall Council but, regrettably for all involved, they were not able to meet this request. ACE has not offered any prospect of the Acorn becoming a "regularly funded organisation" (RFO), a status which enables many West Country venues and artistic entities to function effectively (but which is currently not being granted to any new clients by ACE).

The Acorn receives significantly less public funding than comparable venues across the South West region. In 2010 it will receive £30,600 (all from Cornwall Council) towards its general running cost whereas other South West venues with similar programmes, operations and audience figures receive between £75,000 and £102,000 through a combination of grants from their local authorities and ACE. For the Acorn to be covering all its costs from tickets and bar sales, and assuming an average 60% capacity audience across the year, each and every customer would need to spend in the region of £23 on each visit to the venue and we would need to charge £1100 to hire the venue for each performance (we currently charge £260). This is not a realistic proposition.

The Acorn is committed to providing a varied programme for the region and supporting Cornish companies to develop and present shows to local people. It is currently the only year-round small scale venue in Cornwall providing such a wide and diverse range of acts. It is not just the building that is a valued resource to the community, it is also the staff team which provides support and guidance on technical issues, access to equipment, a box office facility, publicity support and other help which allows professionals and numerous community groups to present shows at the venue. All but one of the staff are part-time and, despite being paid far below the national average for their roles, they are committed to ensuring that the Acorn always does its best to support companies, promoters, local groups and customers. It is as a result of their dedication to the venue that the Acorn has been able to continue for so long.

Over the last 16 months we have presented 150 live performances selling just over 15000 tickets, 304 workshop sessions and provided the venue on 55 other occasions for community groups to hold meetings or run training courses. We have also provided rehearsal space to 7 professional Cornish companies enabling them to develop their shows ready to tour. Over the last few years we have developed activities that have opened up the venue to new audiences including presenting a regular programme of theatre for children, a club night for people with learning disabilities, participating in the Night Less Ordinary scheme which is an ACE scheme to give free tickets to people under 26, delivering Cornwall's first Disability Arts Festival as well as supporting local community groups such as Shallal Dance Theatre Company, the Acorn Choir, Trelya Youth Project, Golowan Festival, local schools and Truro and Penwith College.

We believe passionately in the importance of the Acorn as a vital centre of the cultural life of West Cornwall, offering a rich and varied artistic experience to the public and an indispensible venue for local and visiting artists and companies. However, operating in an area where a large part of the community does not have much disposable income to spend on cultural activities means that an arts centre can only be sustained by regular, sustained investment of public funds. We sincerely hope that, while activity in the building must cease on 31st August, a sufficient swell of public opinion will bring the long-term financial support that is needed to re-open the Acorn before too long.

If you feel strongly about the closure of the Acorn Arts Centre, please write to one or all of the following to ask for their support:

Sheila Healy, Chair, Arts Council England South West, Southernhay Gardens, Senate Court,  Exeter,  EX1 1UG

Joan Symons, Cabinet Minister for Customer First, Cornwall Council County Hall, Treyew Road, Truro,TR1 3AY

Andrew George MP, Constituency Office, Trewella, 18 Mennaye Road,  Penzance, Cornwall

Cllr Jan Ruhrmund, Town Mayor,  Penzance Town Council, Alverton Street, Penzance, TR18 2QP