Government funding boost will ensure Sunderland's new £11million auditorium will be completed

The fund has awarded £1.3million to Sunderland MAC Trust to help deliver the city’s new Fire Station Auditorium on High Street West, which was already under construction when the Covid-19 pandemic hit.

The funding has came from the £1.57billion Culture Recovery Fund, set out by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport which aims to help cultural organisations across the country cover additional costs, caused by Covid-related delays or fundraising shortfalls, including building works, refurbishments and large-scale equipment purchases.

Paul Callaghan CBE DL, is the chairman of the Sunderland Music, Arts and Culture (MAC) Trust, he has revealed that the additional funding will see that the project is completed.

Mr Callaghan said: “The construction of the Fire Station Auditorium was already well underway when the COVID-19 pandemic happened, and the Trust and our team have had to cope with the major challenges that resulted as a consequence.

“This very significant grant from the Government’s Cultural Recovery Fund will mean that the Trust will be able to complete this important place-shaping project for the people of Sunderland and the North East.

"The Trust is extremely grateful to the Department of Culture Media and Sport and to Arts Council England for this continued generous support.”

Construction work on the entertainment venue began in October 2019 and once complete, will have a capacity of 450 people seated or 800 standing, according to pre-covid designs.

It is hoped that the mid-size venue will stamp Sunderland on the touring circuit route for a host of gigs and other performances.

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