Blaze of glory for Windsor arts centre

10:46am Monday 18th August 2008

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A NEW arts centre will open in Windsor early next month, thanks to "enormous support" from the local community.

Named The Firestation Centre for Arts & Culture, the 160-seat venue will officially launch on Monday, September 1, and replaces the former Windsor Arts Centre, which closed last December following financial problems.

"People in Windsor are hungry for something great – and hopefully we’re it."

Dan Eastmond

The centre has secured funding from a number of sources, including an £80,000 annual grant from the Royal Borough of Windsor.

Billed as "an exciting, forward-thinking and cutting edge centre for arts and culture", the multi-purpose venue features a brand new IT studio and improved gallery space.

Extensive renovation is also well under way to modernise the auditorium and basement studio, the venue's two main performance spaces.

The Firestation boasts a new team comprising managing director Dan Eastmond, operations director Pete Dolan and programme manager Sam Hunt.

Dan, who lives in Datchet, has developed a number of arts businesses and venues over the past 15 years, including Bristol's Cornershop Studios, as well as Number10 venues and The Dogstar in London.

He tells me: "We have been incredibly lucky in bringing The Firestation to Windsor.

"There's been an enormous amount of support in place and we've had a great response to our ideas.

"We not only wanted to reopen the centre, but also make a great impression.

"So we've smartened up the building and brought it up to date, as well as invested in a team which is committed to doing something really special with the venue.

"What we would really love to do is reignite people's enthusiasm for the place."

Among the highlights planned at The Firestation is Ignition, a monthly showcase of new music acts, which begins on Friday, September 5, with Norfolk rock group Sennen. Cabaret and comedy are also on the list, every last Thursday of the month.

Cinema buffs can get their cinematic fix with Music As Film, a season celebrating films about music made in the past five years. There will also be classics from the 1940s and 1950s showing on Wednesday afternoons, while fans of world cinema and independent films will also find themselves well catered for.

Other acts confirmed include The Neil Cowley Trio on Sunday, September 28, Mitch Benn and The Distractions on Friday, October 10, and Isy Suttie and Dan Antopolski on Saturday, November 1.

Dan adds: "What we're just hoping to do is run a venue that excites and inspires.

"People in Windsor are hungry for something great - and hopefully we're it."

The Firestation Centre for Arts & Culture opens on Monday, September 1. Details: www.firestationartscentre.com