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Corn Exchange asking for donations as it battles council cuts




Newbury theatre launches fundraising appeal

NEWBURY’S Corn Exchange theatre is asking its supporters to donate £10 to help it ‘fill the gap’ left by proposed cuts to its funding.

West Berkshire Council was originally planning to cut its grant to the Market Place theatre by £136,000 from April 1.

But after more than 3,500 people responded to a public consultation, the district council announced that it would be making £56,000 of ‘transitional funding’ available to help manage the cuts in a phased process.

And while the Corn Exchange says the extra funds have come as a relief, it added that the five-figure shortfall still leaves it with a huge challenge in terms of delivering its arts programme.

On Tuesday, the theatre launched its ‘Love Your Corn Exchange’ fundraising appeal to try and raise some additional money and is asking people to donate by text, phone or online.

Laura Jostins-Dean, development manager at the Corn Exchange, said: “While the council’s decision has been met with some relief, given their initial proposal was a far deeper cut, a reduction of this scale is still a huge challenge for us.

“So we are asking all our supporters to make a donation of £10 to our Love Your Corn Exchange appeal.”

Grant Brisland, co-director of the Corn Exchange, added: “The support we’ve had over the last month demonstrates just how important we are to the district.

“One Facebook user called the Corn Exchange the heart of Newbury and that seems to epitomise the sentiment echoed by many and so it made the basis of our new fundraising appeal.”

To donate to the Love Your Corn Exchange Appeal, either visit www.cornexchange.com/donate, text CORN15 £10 to 70070 or call Box Office on 0845 5218 218 (calls will cost 2p per minute plus your telephone company’s Access Charge).

Last year more than 115,000 people attended performances and events at the Corn Exchange.



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