Second major funding announcement for Globe Theatre redevelopment

The Central Energy Trust has announced it has allocated just under $300,000 towards the redevelopment of Palmerston North's Globe Theatre.

The funding is made up of two grants, $209,000 for the build, managed by Palmerston North City Council, and $80,000 for fit out, managed by the Globe Theatre Trust Board.

In the 2012/13 10 Year Plan the Palmerston North City Council gave the go ahead for the redevelopment of the Globe Theatre which includes the addition of a café/bar and a 100 seat flat floor auditorium that will be used for performances, training and conference facility if required.

The donation comes on top of a $500,000 donation from New Zealand Lotteries Commission earlier this year and Palmerston North Mayor, Jono Naylor, says "the donation is a fantastic pre-Christmas boost to the project. A number of applications to other trusts have also been made and I'm confident that we will raise all the funds necessary for the Council's commitment to the building."

Globe Theatre Trust Board chairman, Stephen Fisher, says Central Energy Trust's donation towards the fit out is extremely welcome and the Trust Board is now around 2/3rds of the way towards achieving its target.

"We've held a number of fundraisers so far and in the new year we'll be announcing more events."

"Both the arts community and the wider community have been really supportive and we'll be working with them in the new year to raise the necessary funds."

Stephen Fisher says construction is expected to begin in March and it's anticipated it will be completed inside of five to six months.

"We were hopeful that construction would begin in the new year however it makes sense to ensure all the funding is in place before construction begins."

He says the Globe is working with regular users of the facility to ensure they have performance spaces during the reconstruction phase.