External Refurbishment and Resilience (Phase 3)

Investment project code: 259

In relation to the identified priorities in the Guidance & Essential criteria what will your idea achieve and who will benefit from your project?

The project supports South Ayrshire’s ambitions around place, culture & the arts, Ayr town centre, regeneration and 20-min neighbourhood agenda. The Gaiety is a cultural anchor in the town centre supporting 20 staff & over 100 volunteers drawing large audiences into the town centre – over 250 performances of 102 productions a year and a 5 star annual panto playing to 27,000 people. A better-looking, more sustainable theatre supports visitor spend and its long term financial stability.

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Please describe what you plan to do and what the money will be used for? (i.e., purchase equipment/resources)

This project (Phase 3) completes the restoration of the building by tackling its external fabric, which was not addressed in the 2016 interior refurbishment. The Partnership’s own business plan names the building’s externals as its main physical weakness.

Using RCGF grant, the project will deliver: full repair of the external fabric (masonry, render, roof coverings, rainwater goods and windows); reinstatement of the main and side entrance canopies; restoration of the Art Deco frontage, illuminated “Toblerone” sign and canopy lettering; improvements to insulation and upgrades to heating to reduce carbon consumption,and associated site works.  

The result: a weathertight, energy-efficient, better-looking building, with a restored landmark frontage that lifts the whole street.

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Location: Ayr

Proposed on behalf of: Ayr Gaiety Partnership

• Community Assets
• Youth
• arts
• Culture & Heritage
• Tourism
• Children & Families