With two weeks left for Dance City to raise funds to upgrade its theatre, the crowdfunder campaign has hit 80% of its target.
The crowdfunder campaign for new theatre seating aims to ensure audiences at the region’s leading development organisation for dance have a more comfortable experience when watching shows.
Dance City has the biggest programme of professional dance performances outside London and launched a crowd-funder campaign earlier this year to support its aim of replacing the current bench style seating in its theatre with new theatre-style seating, offering more confort and style. The new system will improve accessibility and ease of use for wheelchair users and other audience members with restricted mobility.
72 people have already pledged donations through the online crowd-funder meaning the target of £10,000 is 80% achieved already. Sample seats are now available to sit on at Dance City so people can really see where their money is going.
In return for their generosity, donors can bag some money-can’t-buy rewards including a behind the scenes ‘spy tour’, dinner with the artistic director, and a seat on the commissioning panel for new dance work funded by Dance City. There are six ‘golden tickets’ up for grabs, which entitle the donor to access all classes, performances and any other events at Dance City for one year. Everyone who donates more that £100 will be commemorated on the wall at Dance City.
“I’d like to thank everyone who has supported our campaign so far,” said Anthony Baker, artistic director and joint CEO at Dance City. “Our theatre seating is in need of an upgrade. It’s the only thing audiences tell us they don’t like about our gorgeous theatre dedicated to dance, And it will also enable us to make dance is even more accessible to all audiences.”
All money raised will be increased by 50% to help reach the ultimate target of £42,000. The ‘Take a Seat’ campaign has already received a number of generous donations from the public as well as a small grant from the Catherine Cookson Charitable Trust towards the overall target, with the final funds sought via the crowd-funder.
Dance City is the North East’s leading development organisation for dance biggest dance employer in the north of England. Last year ticket sales grew by 12%, with 10,000 tickets sold for performances. There were 50,000 attendances at dance classes across the year, and it also works with over 20,000 people in the community of the North East.