Watermill theatre loses Arts Council support

While the Corn Exchange celebrated today's announcement of continued government investment, The Watermill have received the bad news that they will not continue to be funded by Arts Council England as an NPO (National Portfolio Organisation).

They will now have to seek alternative ways of raising funds.

The Bagnor theatre's artistic director and chief executive Paul Hart and executive director Claire Murray have responded to the announcement, saying: “We understand that difficult decisions have had to be made as part of the Investment Programme. Arts Council England’s decision not to offer NPO funding to The Watermill Theatre presents a significant challenge. However, we remain committed to serving our audiences and the communities of West Berkshire and to contributing to the UK’s thriving cultural ecology.

"We will now take some time to explore other funding options and partnerships that can enable us to continue our ambitious and exciting programmes on and off stage.

"We’d like to take the opportunity to pay tribute to our Trustees whose support and guidance is invaluable. We’d also like to thank the brilliant team at The Watermill whose passion for creating great theatre, dedication to collaborating with our communities and commitment to nurturing and developing talent, is exceptional.

"We know with their support, along with that of our loyal audiences, donors and sponsors, we will find a way to navigate this challenge.”