Community donation pushes button on new Education Centre and Studio Theatre in Lytham

The Lowther Pavilion Theatre & Gardens are thrilled to announce a major donation that will see building work commence on the new Education Centre and Studio Theatre this summer.

The Windmill Community Benefit Society are supporting the construction of the shell of the new Education Centre and Studio Theatre with a massive donation of £180,000 towards the build costs.

Roger Franklin, Chair of Windmill Trustees, said: “The trustees see this as an exciting scheme to support and it was agreed that the scheme has many features that are consistent with Windmill’s objects in particular, the promotion of the education and continuing development of children and young people locally and we hope that the development will be of considerable benefit to the community”.
Following the pandemic shutdown Lowther have been like a phoenix rising by responding to the local community’s need for more involvement in creative and well being practices. We have had great success with our classes for home educated children (there has been a 34% increase home education since the pandemic) our 4 youth theatres and adult theatre classes as well as developing green education in the beautiful Lowther gardens.

Tim Lince, Lowther Pavilion’s Artistic Director and CEO, said: “2022 saw the completion of the foundations for the building and work has continued fundraising but following the pandemic it has been increasingly difficult to raise significant funds to move the project on. This is why it is such a boost to Lowther’s aims to provide a first class Education Centre for all Fylde’s residents and visitors.”
“To receive this donation not only shows continued support by the Windmill Community Benefit Society, who have previously supported with the purchase of Cinema apparatus, Outdoor Screens and our streaming equipment that saw us broadcast to over 10,000 care home rooms weekly during the pandemic, but will also provide the stimulus for Lowther to receive other grant funding and gift donations towards the completion costs. There has never been a greater need for the new building as Lowther is already straining at the seams as it prepares work to transfer to the new Education centre.”

Teresa Mallabone, Lowther Garden’s Trust Chair, said: “This is a tremendous show of support for Lowther and the work it does in the community. We look forward to delivering this build and providing the Fylde with a fantastic new resource.”

The new building work will go out to tender in April with work starting on site in July with the hoarding hopefully being removed in December.