Owners of a popular theatre in Manchester said they are 'gutted' after the venue was turned down for Arts Council funding to improve access for disabled people. Simon Naylor, creative director of 53two, said that plans to extend its theatre space and put in a ‘Changing Places’ toilet facility, one of only a handful in the city, will be put on hold after the bid for £200,000 was turned down.
He said he is 'angry' at the application process, which he labelled 'inaccessible'. The Arts Council replied that they had received a high number of applications and they had to make some 'tough decisions'.
“We raised £240,000 ourselves, through a crowdfunder, through grants and hard fricking work from the brilliant people of Manchester, and that’s been great, and it allowed us to do the first arch, and the 85-seater venue and café,” Simon said.
“It seems to be for the Arts Council it would be a no-brainer, but perhaps that’s naïve. It would have made us the only independent, wheelchair accessible city centre theatre, which in itself would be spectacular.”
53two, which was founded on its inclusivity for both disabled artists and disabled patrons, wanted to increase the size of the theatre space to 150 seats, as well as adding the enhanced toilet facilities and making the theatre dressing rooms fully accessible to disabled artists too. “I’m angry at their application system, it’s not designed for artists and it’s completely inaccessible,” he said.
The Arts Council said: "Demand for the Capital Investment Programme was extremely high and we received a large number of both Expressions of Interest and applications. We had to make tough decisions, but we awarded funding to applications that most closely meet the criteria and made the strongest contribution to the aims of the programme.
"In 2020, 53two was awarded £61,116 through the Government’s Culture Recovery Fund which supported cultural organisations through the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and we would welcome applications from the organisation to other Arts Council funding programmes in the future."
It added: "The Arts Council is committed to providing accessible application processes for individuals and organisations applying to our funds. As part of this, we offer an access support programme to support applicants with specific access requirements. We are also aware that some users have provided feedback about our online application portal, Grantium. We have passed this onto Grantium’s developer, who is in the process of upgrading the platform."
The theatre, which is situated on Watson Street in the Grade II-listed tunnels beneath Manchester Central, is now hoping that it can raise the money for the plans via its first birthday celebrations on May 27, which will be headlined by a performance from poet and theatre patron Tony Walsh, who will be reading his poem Arts and Minds.
Also on the bill will be from international wheelchair dance champion Monique Jarrett and live music from The Villanelles.
Over the past year, the venue has played host to events from the likes of the BAFTA-winning arts and media charity TripleC, the Community Media Crew, Period Poverty UK, Streetwise Opera, Manchester Deaf Centre, Breakdown Bolton and the Brittle Bone Society.
Coronation Street star Cherylee Houston, also a patron of the theatre as well as being artistic director of TripleC, said: “53two is an incredibly important venture for creatives across Manchester, not only did they design their building to be entirely step free they actively ensure they include disabled creatives across their work. They are an accessible venue that are warm and welcoming and ensure that all disabled creatives continually feel part of their phenomenal programme of work.”
Anyone wishing to donate can do so via the theatre's website.
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