The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has announced the winners of its latest round of Cultural Development Fund awards. Morecambe Winter Gardens has secured £2.7m for the continued renovation of the Grade II* listed concert hall.
The funding will support the Morecambe Winter Gardens Preservation Trust to work on building a two-storey extension with toilets, accessible lifts and a fire escape. The building’s old electrical system will be rewired, with AV and lighting equipment added. The funds will also go towards an acoustic shell for the building’s fly-tower. The end goal is for Morecambe Winter Gardens to become a 1,600-capacity music venue within three years.
Buttress, appointed by the Morecambe Winter Gardens Preservation Trust, was responsible for carrying out the feasibility study, providing heritage consultancy advice as well as supporting the trust with the funding application.
Buttress Director, Stephen Anderson, said: “This marks an important moment in the Winter Garden’s history. The volunteers of Morecambe Winter Gardens Preservation Trust have worked tirelessly over many years, ensuring that Morecambe Winter Gardens has been able to welcome-in its community whilst they have repaired and conserved the building. This is an amazing recognition for their efforts, and we are very proud to have played a role in this latest success.”
Professor Vanessa Toulmin, Chair of Morecambe Winter Gardens Preservation Trust commented: “Without Buttress our understanding of the building, its complexities and potential would not have been possible. They have transformed our hopes and dreams into viable reality with a clear architectural vision and plans that will take us forward to a brighter future.”