A deputy leader of Caerphilly County Borough Council has said Blackwood Miners’ Institute needs to be moved in a more “commercial direction”.
Councillors have heard plans to make the institute more attractive for visitors.
The venue, which counts Caerphilly County Borough Council as its sole trustee, is hoping to revamp its ticketing system and website to draw more people through its doors.
A report considered by the council’s cabinet said a lack of a dedicated car park has prevented BMI from installing tourism signs to direct visitors to the building.
But members lent their support to an improved marketing campaign to sell the venue, including the exploration of electronic signs.
Last year 31,325 people visited shows over the course of the year’s programme – a drop of more than 5% over the previous year.
Council funding for the institute has also fallen by 11% in five years, from £365,279 in 2013/14 to £324,362 in 2018/19.
The current subsidy represents 42% of the venue’s total running costs – any further reductions have been deemed a risk by the Arts Council of Wales (ACW).
ACW pays an annual grant of £129,375 to the BMI, which covers the cost of touring, shows, workshops, bar staff wages and any overtime.
Giles Ballisat, BMI’s theatre and arts service manager, told councillors: “The grant allows us to be bolder with our programming.
“We can take calculated risks, but there is the risk that the local authority could reduce its subsidy further.”
One of the council’s deputy leaders, Cllr Sean Morgan, asked if making the venue’s bar “more customer friendly” could help.
The meeting heard of plans to knock an internal wall through to expand the bar, but such proposals would fail to get listed building consent.
Cllr Morgan said the institute needed to be moved in a more commercial direction to reduce the council subsidy.
Cllr Dave Poole, leader of the council, proposed that electronic screens could be installed outside the venue and further afield.
He said: “I’m frustrated as the potential of this institute is huge. We need to think bigger, we’ve got money in reserves to invest.”
One minute the council say they are facing large cuts – now they’ve got money in reserve to invest !
So which is true ? Or is this more hype from an untrustworthy council ?
The Majority of Patron’s who visit this Venue are not the kind that would keep a Bar in “PROFIT”, Especially with a Wetherspoon Pub Right opposite which is about to expand it’s Premises, So enlarging Bar area is a no no.
The fact that Wethersoon is so near needs to be part of the Stutes attraction. Early Drink & Meal then a Top class Night of Entertainment.
The Venue is not attracting the 16-30 age sector, the one’s with the non-committed spend power. We need to give them what they want.