It was a landmark occasion for The Beacon yesterday when Lord Lloyd Webber visited the construction site at the key stage of building this new arts centre, the Topping Out ceremony.
After the topping out he held private auditions for the new ITV show ‘Superstar’ http://www.itv.com/superstar/ in Greenock, for five young people from the Inverclyde/ West of Scotland area hoping to be cast in the role of Jesus for the West End.
One of the trusts which has supported The Beacon Arts Centre project, is the Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation, which awarded us a grant of £100,000 last July. The grant is in support of our youth theatre project which will give life-changing opportunities to young people from challenged backgrounds, through participation in arts projects.
Click on the link below to hear Andrew Lloyd Webber sing the praises of The Beacon
http://video.stv.tv/bc/entertainment-andrew-lloyd-webber-greenock-arts-20120216/?redirect=no&febf
Those present at The Beacon Topping Out Ceremony included Andrew Dixon, CEO Creative Scotland, Bill Nicol, CEO Riverside Inverclyde, Cllr. Ronnie Ahlfeld, Inverclyde Council, Cllr Stephen McCabe, Inverclyde Council, Aubrey Fawcett, Corporate Director of Regeneration and the Environment, Inverclyde Council, Jim Brown, Director B4 Films, Mark Sidgwick, Partner LDN Architects, Alex Liddell, Architect for The Beacon, LDN Architects, Michael Graham, Executive Chairman, Graham Construction.
Representing the Arts Guild/The Beacon were Chairman Elliott McKelvie, Company Secretary Brian Gavin, Artistic Director Julie Ellen and Directors Andrew Gerrard, Jane Cox, Alan Beck, Hugh Harris, Stewart McMillan and David Gorry.
About The Beacon
The Beacon’s mission is to be a landmark resource for cultural life in Scotland, a unique hub for the arts in which to be entertained by an inspiring range of events. It will maximise the impact of existing creative investment and it will increase that investment in west central Scotland. It will enhance the enjoyment and cultural experience of all who use it, helping make Inverclyde a more attractive place in which to live and to visit.
Elliott McKelvie, Chairman of Greenock Arts Guild Ltd., said: “The topping out of The Beacon marks a hugely important step in a project which has taken 8 years to develop. We are now at the final stages of fulfilling our vision for a vibrant, inclusive focal point for arts activities in Inverclyde and beyond. The Beacon is a wonderful example of how a community can pull resources to deliver a building which will be a prominent, new asset for the Scottish arts scene. Our website, www.beaconartscentre.co.uk , re-launching in early March, will contain further images, videos and fundraising information about The Beacon as we approach the opening in summer 2012.”
Madeleine Lloyd Webber, Trustee of The Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation said: “The Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation is passionate about young people and giving opportunities to them within the arts. The Youth Theatre project at the Beacon Arts Centre aims to provide the young people in this area an outlet for self expression and to encourage life skills using theatre practices. Through our donation, we hope to make a positive difference in Inverclyde that will be felt for generations to come.”
Inverclyde Council Leader Councillor Stephen McCabe said: “This a significant milestone in the construction of our new community arts centre and I am delighted the project is well along the road to completion. The new Beacon is set to be just that – a shining light for the arts in Inverclyde and beyond, and to become a focal point for excellence on Greenock’s rejuvenated waterfront.”
Michael Graham, Executive Chairman of GRAHAM Group, said: “GRAHAM Construction has been working hard to create the steel and concrete frame of The Beacon, which features an ensemble of balconies and a unique upper circle. The stage area forms part of the tower and the curtains will be pulled straight upwards to the tallest point of the building, standing at 20 metres. Once completed, the theatre will be entirely enclosed in glass, with certain elevations being internally illuminated to create a striking facade. The building is really taking shape and standing in the auditorium looking at the stage it is clear to see The Beacon will be a spectacular venue for Greenock Arts Guild and the people of Inverclyde.”
Inverclyde’s Arts Centre will be one of the finest new venues in the UK. The Beacon is currently under construction at Customhouse Quay in Greenock and there can be few theatres in the country which will enjoy such a spectacular view, overlooking the River Clyde, towards the hills of Argyll and Dunbartonshire.
