The Live Arts Space will generate the following benefits to Point Blank and the community: - Showcase a range of performance media drawing on the delivery capacity and credentials of Point Blank and other third sector agencies within the creative industries - Provide a platform for emerging artists within the community to showcase their talents through performance pieces - Provide employment, wage subsidy and work experience opportunities for emerging artists - Create/preserve jobs for people in the local community - House a Creative Skills Training Academy that will offer a range of accredited and non-accredited learning opportunities - Create a hub of community activity – a meeting place where local community groups can meet up and network - Offer hireable space to other organisations - Underpin and reinforce core retail functions with locally accessible vocational training programme - Use this particular venture as a springboard into other social enterprise and asset-based development initiatives, as appropriate - Become an environmental model of good practice for the industry by operating the building as a sustainable energy project. We have secured £290k towards the freehold purchase of the property and require a further £150k in order to finalise the purchase and build the studio theatre. Our Business Plan indicates we will generate profits of £92k per year which represents over half the annual income of the organisation. The venture will therefore not only produce widespread direct benefits to the community but will increase the number of disadvantaged individuals benefiting from Point Blank’s core activities. "For many years ITC (Independent Theatre Council – Management Association for 700 professional performing arts organizations throughout the UK) has been concerned at the small number of successful independent theatre and performing arts companies operating in Sheffield. It is unusual for such a large culturally vibrant city to have a dearth of such activity. It is therefore with great excitement that we welcome and support this proposal to establish a pub theatre in the city. There are few pub theatres outside of London, but they offer an excellent breeding ground for some of the best, most innovative and experimental theatre. No major cultural centre should be without one!" Charlotte Jones, Chief Executive Officer, Independent Theatre Council (ITC)