Below is a press release regarding the exciting new future for the Winter Gardens Venue in Ventnor. Please take time out to read it and put forward your thoughts through the forum (you can post anonymously if you wish).
There has recently been much speculation as to the future of the Ventnor Winter Gardens. The very viability of this elegant venue has been called into question at Ventnor Town Council meetings and in local press.
We are pleased to announce that the Council have accepted our proposal for a bold new initiative to save, refurbish and promote the Winter Gardens. Since the original proposal, plans have moved forward a lot and involve more interested parties. Our project is based upon a business model utilized in successful arts venues throughout the UK.
Making use of the Arts Council funding and private donations we will deliver a state of the art venue built around music and the performing arts that will become a centre of excellence for contemporary and performing arts and a core venue for the artistic and wider community, a great deal of which chooses to live in and around Ventnor, to be involved in and enjoy.
Geri and Philip, who some will know from the Jazz Festival and related activities, have happily joined forces with Tim Snelling and Paul Butler of DIG promotions, who made the original proposal, to help add different knowledge and experience into the overall project.
We are currently in a phase of consultation with local organisations, current and future users of the facility as to how best we can serve the needs of the local arts scene and involve the wider community to see the Winter Gardens thrive to provide a place with a variety of things to do — for residents and holidaymakers alike. We welcome any proposals as to how we can best serve the needs of the local arts scene.
