Nearly £1m for community arts centre in town

Cooke's Studios is home to various arts groups in Barrow

A cultural hub is set to receive £910,000 in government funding to become its town's flagship, community-led arts centre.

Cooke's Studios in Barrow, Cumbria, will receive the money from the government's community ownership fund.

The money will allow Cooke's Studios to refurbish the building and open a new cafe and reception area.

Kerry Kolbe, director of Signal Film and Media, which applied for the funding, described the changes a "big jump" for the centre.

Signal Film and Media (SFM) is a digital arts charity dedicated to providing inclusive, creative digital media experiences in Barrow, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Cooke’s Studios is also home to The Theatre Factory, Freespirit Academy of Dance and Acrobatics, Furness Multicultural Forum & Youth Club and the Sir John Fisher Foundation.

The investment will allow Cooke's Studios to provide community services such as art exhibitions and a community cinema.

'Accessible'

Ms Kolbe said the changes would make the studios' business model more sustainable.

She said: "We’re thrilled to have secured such a substantial investment to our project in Barrow, to fund this exciting and long-hoped-for transformation of our community building.

"Having a whole new ground floor entrance, reception and cafe alongside new and improved exhibition, training and workshop spaces will make Cooke’s Studios accessible to so many more people, as well as making an even bigger difference to the thousands of residents who already use Cooke’s Studios each year."

Jacob Young visited Cooke's Studios to announce the funding

Levelling Up minister Jacob Young visited Cooke’s Studios to make the funding announcement, where he helped to edit an animated film.

Mr Young said the community ownership fund itself was worth £150m.

"We’re investing £50bn in different levelling up streams," he said, "but the community ownership fund is going directly to community groups to protect and preserve assets that are important for that community, and that’s what I’ve seen in Barrow today."