Lowry applies for £10m grant for urgent upgrade

When it was inaugurated in 2000, the Lowry was hailed for its regeneration of Salford Quays

The Lowry arts centre is looking to secure £10m needed for "critical" upgrades to keep it open, according to a council report.

The Salford waterfront theatre and gallery has been invited to bid for £8.5m from Arts Council England's Creative Foundations Fund, but only on the condition a partner is found for the additional £1.5m.

Salford City Council is set to decide whether it will provide the remaining cash at a meeting on 17 September.

The report said money would be spent on "urgent infrastructure needs" and would safeguard the future of the arts complex, which marks its 25th birthday this year. Lowry chief executive Julia Fawcett said the cash "will help us thrive for the next 25 years".

She added: "For 25 years, Lowry has been at the heart of cultural life in Greater Manchester, inspiring millions of visitors and transforming lives through creativity.

"Support from this government fund will help us thrive for the next 25 years. We're delighted to have made it through the first stage of this application process, but we know the competition for funds will be tough.

"This investment will ensure Lowry can continue to deliver world-class art, vital community programmes, and significant economic impact for the next 25 years and beyond."

The Safeguard the Future of the Lowry project aims to raise £10m capital to ensure that the Salford Quays venue "can continue to operate, be more sustainable and meet the needs of all its communities", the report said.

The government's Creative Foundations Fund is open to applications from cultural organisations across England, but it stipulates that any bid for a grant of more than £1m must be supported by a minimum of 15% partnership funding.

'Cultural institution'

Pending formal approval, Salford City Mayor Paul Dennett has agreed to provide the additional funding - both enabling The Lowry's formal grant application and improving its chances of success.

Dennet said: "Lowry is an iconic venue in our city and one that we have always been proud to support. It's a cultural beacon supporting grassroots arts as well as hosting internationally renowned productions, attracting millions of people each year."

As well as fully backing the Lowry's application for Arts Council England's Creative Foundations Fund, he said a decision would be made at the 17 September meeting for a proposal for Salford City Council to provide an additional £1.5m funding.

Uppermost among the upgrades required to the Lowry's internal infrastructure are replacing two obsolete escalators with lifts to improve the building's accessibility, changing the boilers and chillers to reduce carbon emissions, and updating the venue's fire and alarm systems.

The 2024 council report Making Culture Count estimated The Lowry generated £86.6m in visitor spending every year.

But the building requires substantial investment to continue operating, according to the city council.

The Lowry's mission statement centres on "supporting local communities, nurturing talent and creating a programme as diverse and open-minded as our city itself".

It has become Salford's definitive cultural institution, supporting art initiatives across the region.

The Lowry is named after one of Britain's most celebrated painters, LS Lowry, and holds the world's biggest public collection of his work, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

As part of this year's anniversary celebrations, the venue held an immersive exhibition featuring a 360-degree display of L. S. Lowry's celebrated 1953 artwork Going to the Match.