Work is progressing on a bid that could secure funding for an even more ambitious redevelopment of The Coro in Ulverston.
Following community engagement at the end of last year, where hundreds of people shared their thoughts, opinions and ideas on how The Coro could be shaped for the future, the focus now is on finalising a submission to the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF).
Westmorland and Furness Council, which owns and operates venue, has already identified an initial estimated £2million investment to redevelop The Coro, along with £500,000 from the Borderlands Place Programme. Now there is an opportunity to secure even more funding for The Coro project, with potential additional funding of up to £3.2million from the NLHF, subject to a successful application.
This could mean a much bigger redevelopment could be achieved, so that The Coro could look at exciting opportunities to further expand its role as home for arts, culture and library and community services.
The feedback from the recent engagement is being used as crucial evidence for the funding bid. Representatives from NLHF have visited The Coro to discuss the bid and the final submission is due to be sent in February.
Westmorland and Furness Council has continued to work closely with the community as it refines the NLHF bid submission.
A Community Working Group, including key community stakeholders such as the town council and representatives of local businesses and disability, community and arts and cultural organisations, is working with the council project team to help draw up the final NLHF submission, to ensure the application can really evidence community input and support.
Following submission of the NLHF bid, next steps will involve the appointment of architects, who will be engaging with the community as they finalise concept designs for an extensive re-modelling of The Coro if the NLHF bid is successful, while at the same time also looking at designs for what could be achieved within the already agreed budget if the bid is unsuccessful.
Through the recent engagement, launched at the start of September, hundreds of people shared their views on what they’d like to see from a redevelopment of The Coro, providing feedback through on-line and paper surveys, events, activities and public meetings.
‘Visioning’ workshops were held with arts and cultural organisations, businesses, Ulverston Town Council, Town Team and voluntary sector groups. Some of the more creative approaches included setting up a market stall in the town centre to gather views - with artist Mollie Ray depicting people’s ideas in a comic art display - parking a double decker bus bar outside The Coro to capture the opinions of people attending a sold-out comedy night, having a suggestions board in The Coro foyer and connecting with schools, youth and community groups ranging from blood donors to a local food project.
The council has demonstrated its commitment to The Coro and its valuable community role by continuing to invest in ongoing improvements at the venue, ahead of the main redevelopment programme starting. Recent investments have included installing a new heating and hot water system, redecoration, new low-carbon stage lighting and upgraded ceiling lights.