West Wing arts centre future secured

The future of arts in Slough has been secured ahead of a move to a new home.

At last week's cabinet meeting council leaders agreed proposals for the council to look for a partner to run the West Wing for an initial two year period and secure the service's future to 2012, when the new Learning Curve should be built.

The arts facilities will then have a new home in the High Street  as part of the Heart of Slough project, which is set to regenerate the town.

The council say the West Wing did not work well as a traditional theatre, only attracting 280 visitors each week up to March 2009.
Last year the centre changed to be more of a community arts venue and now attracts up to 750 visitors per week.

Andrew Stevens, assistant director for learning and cultural engagement, said: "We have talked to our community groups and other people at the West Wing and they have suggested that use of the arts centre could improve further if there were greater certainty that it would be maintained. So that is what we are aiming to do."