Torbay's Cultural Development: Paignton Picture House
In recent weeks the Cultural Development Fund (CDF) - one of three capital programmes in the Cultural Investment Fund - has been inviting expressions of interest (EOI). The focus of CDF is to support places with proposals that can deliver the following outcomes between 2022-25:
Unlock local economic growth and productivity
Become more attractive places in which to live, work, visit and invest
Strengthen local leadership, partnerships and capability
Torbay Council has agreed to submit an expression of interest, on behalf of a partnership of organisations, to seek CDF investment to see the Paignton Picture House (PPH) ambitions through to fruition. This will go alongside the investment from the Future High Streets Fund of £1.28m which has already been committed.
CDF guidance requires proposals to meet specific criteria, including being at RIBA work plan stage 1 or further. That was a factor for putting PPH forwards for consideration. If successful, the CDF investment would complete the capital works for the historic landmark, one of Europe’s earliest purpose-built cinemas. It would allow the repurposed PPH to be a flexible mixed-use space, providing both 35mm and digital projection; community events; public access and engagement with the archive; celebrating local film heritage; and providing income generation through a catering offer that complements the surrounding area.
Project activity will also include audience development to reach across Torbay and beyond; on-the-ground community events to involve people in culture and heritage; and skills development opportunities with South Devon College. These all meet the aims for CDF.
‘The Trust are delighted to be working in partnership with Torbay Council, the TDA, Torbay Culture and other key partners to submit an EOI to the Cultural Development Fund. The Picture House is a special place, for its heritage value, and the significant place it holds in the hearts of those who know it. It also represents an ambition to create a new cultural destination for the town, delivering economic and social benefits as well as shaping a new hub for creative activity and the local community’.
- Paul Hawthorne, Chair, Paignton Picture House Trust
Torbay Council, Paignton Picture House Trust, TDA, Torbay Culture, South Devon College and the Agatha Christie Festival Ltd (trading as International Agatha Christie Festival) are among the partners. The Trust is also working with Sound Communities, Doorstep Arts and Filament Works to plan community consultation and engagement events this year. TDA and the Council are working closely with the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) to ensure the plans for Paignton’s CDF fit with the LEP wider ambitions. The Trust is in conversation with the Palace Theatre to consider how best to ensure the ambitions of both important cultural venues can complement each other.
‘Although it will be very competitive, we believe the Paignton Picture House proposals meet the fund’s aims and outcomes well, and have great potential to give Paignton’s regeneration a major boost. The investment will support not only our cultural offer, but our overall approach and events as we seek to make the English Riviera an attractive place to live in, work in and invest’
- Councillor Mike Morey, Cabinet Member for Infrastructure, Environment & Culture
‘In December 2020, Paignton received £13.36m Future High Streets Funding to kick start the transformation of Paignton town centre. This funding, combined with Cultural Development Funding will not only enhance Paignton’s cultural offer, but will create greater diversity of the use of the town centre, as well as creating much needed jobs and skills development opportunities’
- Councillor Swithin Long, Cabinet Member for Economic Regeneration, Tourism & Housing
If the EOI is shortlisted during August, Torbay Council and partners will be invited to make a full bid by mid-October.
Information about the Cultural Development Fund (CDF)
The CDF is a government fund from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS), managed by Arts Council England. Decisions on CDF investment will be made by a panel appointed by the DCMS, involving Arts Council England, National Lottery Heritage Fund, Historic England, the Commissioner for Cultural Recovery & Renewal, and three independent members.
The closing date for EOI is 23 July, and shortlisted proposals will be invited to make a full application by 15 October.
The CDF is open to places in England excluding London; and applications are expected to be led by bodies such as local government or LEPs on behalf of a partnership.
More details can be read on the CDF links at Arts Council website: Cultural Development Fund
Images
Top: Paignton Picture House during the Electric Sound Palace (2019), Chris Timpson and Aurelia Soundworks, commissioned by Torbay Culture for Eyeview, the cultural programme of Torbay’s Great Place Scheme (Photographer: Paul Blakemore).
Inset images: Picture House window details (Photographer: Mark Tipping), pilaster detail (Photographer: Richard Downer)
