Friday, 09 January 2009

Go-ahead for £2.4m arts centre

CALDEW School in Dalston has been given the go-ahead for a £2.4m arts centre.

A single-storey extension will house a new dining area, two music rooms and five music practice rooms.

And the school’s hall will be transformed into a “performance area” with a stage, raked seating and a drama studio next door.

Executive headteacher Andy Abernethy said: “Our music facilities are not top- notch at the moment.

“What we’re doing is using the money coming to us as part of the investment in Carlisle schools to create state-of-the-art music teaching rooms and a new drama studio.

“Our main hall will be converted into a proper theatre with raked seating and all the technology you would expect.

“At the moment our hall has to operate as a place where we hold assemblies and exams and as a place to eat, which creates a lot of disruption.

“This scheme will create a bespoke dining area.”

Construction is due to start in March and should be complete by December 2010.

The extension was given planning consent by Carlisle City Council last week.

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