Council’s Thanks Over Electric Theatre Consultation And Deadline Day Activity From ACM

Published on: 8 Mar, 2016
Updated on: 10 Mar, 2016

The deadline has passed for the six-week consultation on the future of Guildford’s Electric Theatre and on deadline day itself (February 29) Guildford’s Academy of Contemporary Music (ACM) presented 1,500 letters of support for its bid to lease the venue.

ACM staff and students with its executive chairman, Kainne Clements, shaking the leader of Guildford Borough Council, Cllr Paul Spooner's, hand.

ACM staff and students with its executive chairman, Kainne Clements (third from left), shaking the leader of Guildford Borough Council, Cllr Paul Spooner’s, hand.

In thanking everyone who responded to the consultation, the leader of Guildford Borough Council, Cllr Paul Spooner, said today (March 8): “We are looking at the role the Electric Theatre plays in arts and culture in the borough and whether it should continue to provide such a role. We will carefully consider all your feedback and it will help inform decisions on its future.

“We need to identify substantial savings to make across the whole council during the next four years. We try to balance the needs of the community with our aim of providing more efficient services. This is why it is important that we review how we operate facilities such as the Electric Theatre.”

Helping to deliver the ACM’s letters to the council’s offices in Millmead were its executive chairman, Kainne Clements, along with staff and students.

The ACM reports that since it has been made known that it is bidding for the lease of the venue, support for it has grown.

At the ACM: Lois, Kainne Clements, Cass (Skunk Anansie), George Clinton, Ace (Skunk Anansie/head of industry development).

Its latest supporter is the lead musician of funk, soul and rock music collective Parliament-Funkadelic, George Clinton. He has been giving masterclasses to students at the ACM. He said: “We want to do as much as we can when it comes to places for kids to learn. If that is what it takes to keep it open then I am definitely down with that.”

ACM executive chairman Kainne Clements added: “The link to the Electric Theatre and George’s support is to do with community spirit and cultural integration through the power of music.

“George has also inspired to share the love for the human spirit. We know from here and proven many times over that music holds that power and we at ACM have invested enormous amount of energy and care into mindfulness and mental health programmes. The point of the theatre is that we want to foster a massive participation of people from the whole spectrum of talent in Guildford, from an iconic venue recognised as belonging to the community.”

The ACM adds that has also won the support of two members of the band Skunk Anansie and Robin Hutchinson, who recently was awarded MBE for his work as saviour of, and director and trustee at The Rose Theatre in Kingston upon Thames.

Cllr Geoff Davis, the council’s lead councillor for economic development, tourism and heritage, said: “The cross-party working group set up in January 2015 to look at the cultural offer across the whole borough, including future use of the Electric Theatre and its funding, will consider the feedback from the consultation at its next meeting.”

A report with recommendations for the future of the Electric Theatre will be prepared for the council’s executive advisory board on April 7. The Executive will consider the report on April 19.