Maidenhead & Windsor

Everyone who has expressed an interest in providing arts services in Windsor has been sent Royal Borough information and application forms – and they have until noon on Friday March 14 to respond.

Since Windsor Community Arts Centre Limited went into administration just before Christmas, the council has been determined to find a new provider to take forward a varied programme that caters for the needs of the local community. Now the formal process is under way.

So far around a dozen individual people and organisations have said they are keen to get involved. Documentation has been sent to them all, with an invitation to submit formal proposals.

After the closing date all submissions will be evaluated by the council, supported by colleagues from Arts Council England South East, and those who have been shortlisted will be invited to make presentations at the end of March/beginning of April to the council's representatives on the building trust before a final decision is taken.

Cllr Jesse Grey, lead member for Windsor and Maidenhead leisure and culture and one of the council's trustees for the building, said: "Since the arts centre closed there has been a very encouraging level of interest in restoring arts provision to Windsor and now we are giving everyone the opportunity to make a formal proposal.

"Through this process the council aims to help potential providers focus on what will be required without constraining their creativity about the content of their proposed future arts programme.

"This is potentially a very exciting time for the arts in Windsor as we have a new opportunity to give the town a lively, viable programme to cater for the widest possible range of interests."

Cllr Grey reiterated the borough's firm commitment to arts in Windsor and said that, in the upcoming 2008/09 budget, councillors were keen to maintain the £80,000 grant previously given to the arts centre. A final decision on the budget will be taken by full council on February 26.

Anyone interested in putting forward proposals for the provision of arts in Windsor should contact Mark Taylor, head of the library, information, heritage and arts service, on 01628 786989 or email arts@rbwm.gov.uk

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead