THE charity behind the popular Civic Arts Centre in Oswaldtwistle is to take over the Civic Theatre, it has been revealed.

The centre and theatre, run from the same building in Union Road, will be run by Hyndburn Arts Ltd, which will now benefit from a grant worth £75,000.

MORE TOP STORIES:%headlines(25156,display='headlines',limit=4)

The theatre’s leaseholders, Hyndburn Leisure Trust, will be given six months’ notice after Hyndburn Arts Ltd successfully bid to take over the contract to run it.

Creative director at the Civic Arts Centre, Gail Knight, said: “The Arts Centre is community based and we produce in-house shows which will be transferred to the theatre, and we will be working with more community organisations to help them put on performances shows, and events.

“We will keep a similar mix of professional things in as well, because people do want to see the panto at Christmas, but the difference really will be in the community element.

“We are very excited. It’s a challenge for us but we hope the community will be behind us.”

Deputy chief executive of Hyndburn Council, Joe McIntyre, said: “Hyndburn Arts Ltd has successfully operated the ground floor space over the last three years and approached the council seeking to operate the whole building.

“The council therefore asked both Hyndburn Arts Ltd and Hyndburn Leisure Trust to put forward proposals on how they envisage operating the building in the future.

“Mercer House 1842 was also approached and asked to submit a bid. However, after some preliminary work this organisation declined the invitation to bid.”

Both bids were examined by leisure and arts boss Councillor Ken Moss, deputy council leader Councillor Paul Cox, and Mr McIntyre.

Hyndburn Arts Ltd is now set to lease the theatre for around 15 years, although the authority has been given permission to negotiate a lease lasting up to 25 years.

In return for a peppercorn rent, the charity will be responsible for maintaining and repairing the building.

Cllr Moss said: “The bid coincided with a review of the Leisure Trust. They are struggling to make the theatre a going concern and to make the books balance.“The Arts Trust have come forward with a workable business plan and will be self-sufficient in three years. It helps the Leisure Trust make the required savings and will help a local business, and the theatre.

“That’s not to say the Leisure Trust have been useless, it’s just that the Arts Trust have come forward with a better business model.”

Cllr Moss said the Leisure Trust has been receiving between £20,000 and £50,000 a year to run the theatre, while the Arts Trust requires £75,000 over three years to “get them on their feet”.