New report praises Taunton’s cultural facilities

Taunton has begun to make great strides in improving its cultural offer, according to the first annual report from the Taunton Cultural Consortium. The findings highlight achievements including:

Ø plans underway for an international standard Somerset County Cricket Ground,

Ø the Heritage Lottery Fund's support for Somerset County Council's Museum of Somerset project in Taunton Castle,

Ø expansion of the Brewhouse Theatre and Arts centre (backed by Taunton Deane Borough Council)

Ø and innovations such as Westival, the ice rink and OrchestraWest.

However, it also draws attention to the crucial improvements flagged up in its original report which remain to be done and states again its recommendations on what needs to be achieved.

The Taunton Cultural Consortium is an independent body set up to evaluate the state of cultural activities and facilities in Taunton as the county town's regeneration plans take shape. It is tasked with:

Ø demonstrating how arts, culture and leisure facilities, and creative industries are central to the town's renewal as a major urban centre in the south west.

Ø Showing what needs to be done.

Its first Annual Report is a study of cultural developments in the town over the last 15 months, highlighting key issues and reviewing progress against initial recommendations made in November 2005. It was recently submitted to Taunton Deane Borough Council, Somerset County Council and Project Taunton - the regeneration of Taunton's town centre - who will now take action on it.

Prominence in the report is given to the success of the Museum of Somerset in securing Stage 1 approval and funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund in March of this year for major redevelopment and expansion.

Amongst the challenges outlined for Taunton in the study is the development of an infrastructure to help retain and attract creative people to Taunton and Somerset. This needs both sufficient buildings and facilities and also a culture in the town of appreciating, wanting and supporting high quality art, heritage, leisure and sport.

Ian Franklin, Project Director of Project Taunton, said: "A buzzing arts, sport and cultural scene is vitally important for the success of any community and the masterplan for the regeneration of Taunton's Cultural Quarter area brings together all elements including the museum, cricket ground, theatre, art galleries and music venues as well as bringing to life the public spaces in between buildings."

"Not only is Taunton's cultural portfolio important in terms of making the town a better place to live but also in terms of providing local jobs, opportunities for the younger generation, enticing visitors and encouraging companies to relocate to Taunton. Taunton's cultural offering is set to flourish alongside Project Taunton and Taunton Deane Borough Council is here to support it," said Cllr Richard Lees, Executive Councillor for Leisure, Arts & Culture, Taunton Deane Borough Council.

Max Hebditch, Chair of the Taunton Cultural Consortium, said: "It is beyond doubt that Taunton can become a major cultural centre. The creative talent in the visual and performing arts, museums, heritage and sport is already here in Somerset. The new developments now starting will make Taunton a nationally significant showcase for cultural and sporting talent and benefit our economy generally. What we must not allow is the Government's proposed changes in planning and in Somerset's local government to disrupt this process of renewing central Taunton's vitality, thus attracting new talent and business to the town."

To find out more about Project Taunton please contact Robbie Lowes on 01823 250 837, visit www.projecttaunton.co.uk or email robbie.lowes@projecttaunton.co.uk.