Keswick’s Theatre by the Lake may have been closed since March but plans are being made for the future after an appeal was launched for people to join its charity board ahead of reopening in the new year.
The award-winning venue, which made 38 people redundant in the summer, is operated by Cumbria Theatre Trust and wants to appoint new trustees to the charity’s voluntary board which currently numbers nine, led by chairman Charles Carter and vice-chairwoman Kate McLaughlin-Flynn.
“This is a really unique opportunity to get involved in shaping the future of Theatre by the Lake,” said Charles.
“While it’s a challenging time for the charity with the inevitable difficulties that arts organisations face at this time of pandemic, it’s also an exciting opportunity to help forge an ambitious future for the theatre with its new artistic director, Liz Stevenson.
We’re looking for people with an appetite for a challenge but most importantly, a passion for theatre and the arts.”
The theatre, whose workforce has been slashed from 50 to 12, wants new board members with “insight, knowledge and experience” to complement the skills and abilities of existing trustees.
It is especially interested in individuals with backgrounds as practising artists, those with experience of community and participation work, as well as experience in finance and IT/digital.
The role of trustees of Cumbria Theatre Trust includes overseeing and approving policy and planning, ensuring the prudent financial management of the trust, supporting its fundraising activities and evaluating the fulfilment of its artistic policy.
A spokeswoman said:”We particularly encourage applications from people under the age of 30, women and transgender people, deaf and disabled people and people from black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds as they are currently under-represented on the board.”
The trust is likely to recruit more trustees next year, focusing on individuals with legal and fundraising backgrounds. Those who have these skills can register early interest and are advised to get in touch with theatre staff via the website — www.theatrebythelake.com/board — where information is available.
The theatre, which has a 400-seat main house and 100-seat studio, has been closed for more than eight months, but Mary Elliott, its representative on Keswick Town Council’s events committee, told last month’s meeting that it was planning a socially-distanced reopening early next year following the award of government funding.
