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More than £1m raised to fit out Colchester arts facility (From Essex County Standard)
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More than £1m raised to fit out Colchester arts facility
6:00pm Friday 19th March 2010
MORE than £1million has been given to Colchester’s Visual Arts Facility by private donors.
Firstsite, the organisation which will run the controversial centre when it opens, has announced it has received £1,005,688.
The cash will go towards fitting out the building once work on its exterior is completed in June. The total cost of the project is more than £25million.
Kath Wood, director of Firstsite, said: “Firstsite is proud to have raised more than £1million to date from private funders towards the new building, which will play its part in putting Colchester on the cultural map at home and overseas.”
The total includes £315,000 in individual donations, including £12,000 from the sale of 60 floorboards in the Vaf. The remainder comes from trusts and foundations, including a £250,000 pledge from the Foundation for Sport and the Arts.
Chelmsford-based charitable trust Fowler, Smith and Jones has also supported the building, in particular the educational opportunities it will offer local youngsters.
The trust has promised a grant of £180,000 once a completion date has been set.
Paul Smith, Colchester councillor responsible for culture, said Firstsite hitting its target was another sign the Vaf was finally on the right track.
He added: “I think it shows the project is gaining momentum.
“When it’s completed, it’s something which I’m sure everyone in Colchester will have an interest in seeing.”
Overall, the cost of the project has risen from £16.5million to more than £25million.
The Vaf is due to open next year, but no date has yet been set.
Colchester MP Bob Russell, who is a strong critic of Firstsite, questioned if many of those giving money and support to the building, which will feature an art gallery, an auditorium, a restaurant and more, lived in the borough.
He said: “The vast majority of that has come in from corporate donations around the country.
“I’m not aware of a single company, organisation, club or individual from Colchester involved.”
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Your Say YourColchester
Feisty CBC, Colchester says...
8:15pm Fri 19 Mar 10
Boris, Colchester says...
8:45pm Fri 19 Mar 10
So it's one cheer for Firstsite, but given that the overall cost has gone up so much, they need to raise at least another £9 million before they have anything to be proud of.
Heinz, Earls Colne says...
2:19pm Sat 20 Mar 10
Sparkfilms, Colchester says...
5:24pm Sat 20 Mar 10
As I understand it, the interior fit comes in around £8 million. So if no more money is collected do the contractors cease work again?
Looking at the outside of the building ( as I did this morning ) it seems a long way from being finished.
Andy Hamilton, Lexden says...
7:01pm Sat 20 Mar 10
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Unfortunately the present overspend on the exterior work will be completely the responsibility of Colchester Council - no more external grants.
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Colchester Council is behaving like most addicted gamblers in believing that just another cash splurge will make it alright. After May watch the Council jobs go and the refuse collection "rationalised". But thats OK because 34% will have voted so we cannot complain at the outcome.
hughie-s, Here says...
7:25pm Sat 20 Mar 10
Most of whom will put their cross against the same party as they always do without any idea about their policies or their performance, or rather lack of it, in office.
Sparkfilms, Colchester says...
7:36pm Sat 20 Mar 10
We spoke at length about the project 8 months ago.
It was interesting to listen to the viewpoint of Banner rather than the spoonfed press releases that are spewed out by the council and almost repeated word for word in the press.
I asked The Gazette to contact Mr Elson after I spoke to him, which they did and there was a piece in the paper in the next day or so that reflected the views of Banner.
To be fair to Mr Elson I think the figure he estimated was about £7 million, but as nothing on this project has hit budget I allowed another million ( which might be unfair of me ).
How much will the extensive landscaping cost? That is, when there is an area to landscape.
I don't believe the current figure of £25.5 million for the interior / exterior completion is correct.
My guess is £28 million ( possibly more! ) - watch this space.
Taking shape: The Vaf, which is nearing completion, has benefited from £1million from private donors.
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Andy Hamilton, Lexden says...
7:56pm Fri 19 Mar 10
"Taking shape: The Vaf, which is nearing completion, has benefited from £1million from private donors"
The VAF is nowhere "nearing completion". Just look at the building and explain how this part completed shell is "nearing completion" when even the Council states it will be another year. Another distortion is to claim £1million donations now when most is contingent on completing the VAF in the agreed timescale.
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The Council refuse to admit the external work is already over budget because the Council keeps changing its mind and repairs have proved more expensive than anticipated. Consequently the completion of external work is delayed.
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Ask the Council why contractors are fed up with the impractical demands of the Council management. This must be the worst organised project inflicted on the MACE group.
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Come to the full Council meeting March 24th and see councillors deny the facts about the VAF yet again. They have no shame.