Maidenhead & Windsor

The Royal Borough has received four 'interesting and exciting' proposals from groups keen to take over the role of providing arts services in Windsor.

Since Windsor Community Arts Centre Limited – the company providing arts activities for Windsor residents from the council-owned old fire station in St Leonard's Road – went into administration just before Christmas the council has actively sought a new provider, and interested groups were given until March 14 to submit their proposals.

The four groups which rose to the challenge of designing lively, viable programmes catering for the varied needs of the community are:

· Everyday Theatre
· Firestation Arts & Culture
· Windsor Arts are Yours (The WAY Group)
· Windsor Arts Centre Management Group (WACMG)

Cllr Jesse Grey, lead member for Windsor and Maidenhead leisure and culture and one of the building's trustees, said: "We are pleased to have received four interesting and exciting proposals which we – together with colleagues from Arts Council England South East – are evaluating against each other and the council's requirements.

"Following presentations to councillors a recommendation will be made to cabinet at the end of April for a decision.

"We are committed to arts in Windsor; the £80,000 annual grant previously given to the arts centre was maintained in the 2008/09 budget."

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead