\n A programme of \u2018critical and urgent infrastructure\u2019 work is needed at the building in Salford Quays to ensure its long-term survival, the council report states.\n<\/p>\n
\n This includes replacing two \u2018obsolete\u2019 escalators with lifts, because these were out of service for 42 days in 2024 and affected 300,000 visitors.\n<\/p>\n
\n It would also involve replacing \u2018outdated\u2019 boilers and chillers\u2019, and reviewing fire safety systems.\n<\/p>\n
\n The Lowry celebrated its 25th birthday this year and has welcomed more than 20m visitors through its door since opening in April 2000, attracting people from all over the world.\n<\/p>\n
\n The venue has been invited to make a bid for \u00a38.5m from the Arts Council England Creative Foundations Fund, but the move requires an extra \u00a31.5m in matched partnership funding which could be provided by Salford council.\n<\/p>\n
\n The council report explains that new investment would \u2018prevent closure through critical upgrades to the building and equipment, ensuring its continued operation, sustainability, and adaptability for all its communities and evolving audience and visitor needs.\u2019\n<\/p>\n
\n \u2018The Lowry\u2019s building, now 25 years old, requires substantial investment in its infrastructure to continue operating,\u2019 it continued.\n<\/p>\n
\n \u2018Much of the main plant has reached the end of its expected life cycle, making the building no longer fit for purpose.\n<\/p>\n
\n \u2018The project aims to ensure that the Lowry building can continue to operate, be more sustainable and meet the needs of all its communities.\n<\/p>\n
\n \u2018A total of \u00a310m is required for this urgent programme of change.\u2019\n<\/p>\n
\n The report added that Salford mayor Paul Dennett has agreed that the council will provide the \u00a31.5m of matched funding, and this is expected to be confirmed at a meeting at Salford Civic Centre on September 9.\n<\/p>\n
\n The Lowry is named after one of Britain\u2019s most celebrated painters, LS Lowry, and holds the world\u2019s biggest public collection of his work.\n<\/p>\n
\n Paul Dennett, Salford city mayor said: \u201cLowry is an iconic venue in our city and one that we have always been proud to support. It\u2019s a cultural beacon supporting grassroots arts as well as hosting internationally renowned productions, attracting millions of people each year, from not only the local community, but also visitors from around the world.\n<\/p>\n
\n \u201cThe venue has played a unique role in the vital regeneration that has taken place here at The Quays and continues to deliver huge social value for our city, including the access to a wide range of cultural opportunities and the significant employment opportunities that the centre supports.\n<\/p>\n
\n \u201cWe welcome the positive news that the team at Lowry are seeking funding through their Arts Council England bid and fully back their application which will hopefully lead to that investment to support infrastructure improvements.\n<\/p>\n
\n \u201cThere is a proposal for Salford City Council to further support Lowry through additional \u00a31.5m funding and a decision on this will be made at the full Council meeting on 17 September.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
\n Lowry chief executive Julia Fawcett said: \u201cFor 25 years, Lowry has been at the heart of cultural life in Greater Manchester, inspiring millions of visitors and transforming lives through creativity.\n<\/p>\n
\n \u201cSupport from this government fund will help us thrive for the next 25 years. We\u2019re delighted to have made it through the first stage of this application process, but we know the competition for funds will be tough.\n<\/p>\n
\n \u201cThis investment will ensure Lowry can continue to deliver world-class art, vital community programmes, and significant economic impact for the next 25 years and beyond.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"A programme of \u2018critical and urgent infrastructure\u2019 work is needed at the building in Salford Quays to ensure…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":400968,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8813],"tags":[748,393,4884,2465,16,15],"class_list":{"0":"post-400967","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-manchester","8":"tag-britain","9":"tag-england","10":"tag-great-britain","11":"tag-manchester","12":"tag-uk","13":"tag-united-kingdom"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/115153797391316448","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/400967","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=400967"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/400967\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/400968"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=400967"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=400967"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=400967"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}