Project delivery

From its earliest stages, the Cultural Centre scheme has been developed in consultation with a wide range of stakeholders, including the Friends of the Art Gallery, local artists, the Southport Melodic Jazz Society and Arts Centre Users Group. A steering group was established to take the project forward, responsible for appointing consultants to assess market need and prepare architectural options.

The project has also been included in all development proposals over the last five years to help embed it into the town’s mindset. “We have done a lot to ensure the project is seen as valuable to the economic regeneration of the town,” explains Taylor.

The role of artists in the project is being further boosted by plans to involve freelance artists or arts organisations as part of the design team. They will be charged with identifying areas within the project that have the potential for a public art or creative design presence.

Sefton Council believes it can deliver an exciting programme for the Cultural Centre, based on its previous experience of collaborating with a range of arts institutions including The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Society, Merseyside Dance Initiative and carnival festival Brouhaha.

Indeed, programming is seen as a crucial element. Plans include appointing an “experienced, enthusiastic” artistic director who will begin work two years before the new centre opens, working exclusively on developing the programme as well as outreach projects throughout the borough which will help to build-up a database of potential users. With a number of venues under one roof and with one artistic director, opportunities for “integrated programming not possible in other venues” are anticipated, according to the project proposal.

Public/private/voluntary sector partnership Southport Partnership is the organisation that has “oversight” of the project. The partnership co-ordinates the town’s regeneration strategy. Delivery of the project will be managed by Sefton’s client side Technical Services Management team while day-to-day management of the project will be undertaken by a project management team, with membership from planning, economic regeneration and tourism, leisure and education departments.

Detail design work is currently taking place, with the aim of construction starting in early 2010. The design team is headed by John Taylor, Head of Arts and Cultural Services at Sefton Borough Council.