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Arts centre has £285k of improvements approved

Vale of White Horse District Council A woman who is dressed like Taylor Swift - in a red sequinned bodysuit - stands at the front of a stage with a microphone. Four backing dancers can be seen posing behind her. The backs of people's heads in the audience can be seen in the foreground. Vale of White Horse District Council
The Eras Experience: Taylor Swift Tribute by Xenna came to The Beacon in February

A £285,000 revamp of an Oxfordshire town's arts centre has been approved, along with an improvement plan for the venue.

The money from Vale of White Horse District Council will be spent on refurbishing the Beacon Arts Centre, in Wantage.

As part of the action plan, food and drink offerings will be reviewed and "more co-ordinated" marketing will be carried out to boost ticket sales.

But the council said fees and charges had already been increased at the venue - and would be reviewed again in the middle of the year to "assess if any further commercial opportunities exist".

The money will also pay for improving the venue's reception area, refurbishing toilets and creating a more attractive entrance.

Vale of White Horse District Council A picture of The Beacon Arts Centre in Wantage, from outside the front entrance. It is a mostly red brick building, with The Beacon logo on a central pillar and several trees out the front.Vale of White Horse District Council
The Beacon Arts Centre in Wantage will see £285,000 invested to revamp the venue

Originally a Civic Hall built in 1973, The Beacon now has a theatre, dance studio and three function rooms.

The improvements are the second phase of an action plan - and the council said it had already done things like start National Theatre Live screenings and re-introduce a cafe.

Councillor Helen Pighill said the authority had to balance The Beacon's "dual role" as an entertainment venue, aiming to be more commercial, and the "valuable public service" it offered for things like training and education.

She said: "The first phase action plan for the Beacon, adopted in February 2024, laid the groundwork for improvements and this next phase addresses outstanding actions, while introducing a comprehensive set of new initiatives."

The council said it was also developing a "Culture, Heritage and Creative Industries Strategy" for South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse.

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