Arts venue needs support to survive - bosses

Bromsgrove's Artrix has sold more than 16,500 tickets in four months since reopening

Theatre lovers in Worcestershire have been warned to use their local arts venue or risk losing it.

In 2020, the Artrix in Bromsgrove closed through financial difficulties before reopening in October 2023.

Bromsgrove Community Arts pledged to keep the venue open this year and has sold more than 16,500 tickets in just four months.

The group said it was a trend that needed to continue if the Artrix was to remain open in the long-term.

Kyle Daisley from the group said: "Back last year this was an empty building with no plans for the future so to be able to sell that many tickets has been fantastic.

"It is just so nice to be able to see this building thriving again with the foyer filled with people."

He added the plan was to make the Artrix a "community hub" that accommodated everyone from the local chess club and police drop-in sessions to evening performances.

• Listen: 'Use it or lose it'

As well as booking other events, the Artrix has been hosting shows from the Core Theatre since October after reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac) was found at the Solihull venue.

One resident visiting the Bromsgrove venue told the BBC the reopening was "massive" for the area.

"I used to come regularly, 12 to 15 times a year before Covid and I was ever so sad when the place closed down," he said.

"I thought it was never going to reopen so for it to be back open is fantastic news and I hope all the local community support it."