Ludlow Assembly Rooms and Shropshire Council work together

Shropshire Council and Ludlow Assembly Rooms have been working together over the last few months to ensure a viable future for the venue following the withdrawal of Arts Council England funding from April 2012.

A business plan detailing a number of options was submitted by the Assembly Rooms to Shropshire Council in September and detailed consideration has now been given to this by the council.

Shropshire Council has confirmed its support to Ludlow Assembly Rooms and its grant funding until 2015.  Detailed discussions will be held in the new year in respect of access to Ludlow Assembly Rooms from Castle Square, with the Visitor Information Centre and museum remaining in their current location.

Mike Penn, Chairman of the Board of the Assembly Rooms, said:

“We are both pleased and relieved that Shropshire Council has confirmed its grant funding until 2015.  This gives us the time we need to develop new income streams to replace the lost Arts Council funding, and to give the Assembly Rooms a viable future.  We are also very interested in discussing further with the council the potential of opening up access to the Assembly Rooms from Castle Square.  This would greatly enhance our visibility and ability to promote the great programme of live shows, art and film we offer every week to local people and visitors to the town.”

The Assembly Rooms Board will meet again at the end of January to discuss the council’s response and to confirm its business plan for 2012/13.

Shropshire Council Cabinet member Mike Owen said:

“I have been very pleased with the cooperation between all parties involved, and I hope the new arrangements will result in a bright future for Ludlow Assembly Rooms.”

Local Shropshire Councillor, Rosanna Taylor-Smith, added:

“I am so pleased that together we can now set out the future plans for the Assembly Rooms.  There will be access from Castle Square, as well as other internal improvements to enhance the newly-installed digital projector, which will bring a much needed boost to this important local venue that brings in people not only from Ludlow and the surrounding villages, but from all across our county.”

Further notes for media

For more information regarding Ludlow Assembly Rooms, contact Samantha Hine on 07974 772840 or email: sam@samhine.co.uk