£70,000 for arts centre marketing

6:08pm Wednesday 2nd May 2001

Up to £70,000 will be spent this year marketing the Tally Ho arts centre two years before it is due to open.

The Arts Centre Trust says it must spend money to make money and cash will go on publicity material to support grant applications.

But the disclosure has angered Tory councillors, already on the warpath over increased costs and the council's rising financial commitment to the centre.

Budget papers reveal £25,000 for pre-opening publicity material, £20,000 for identity development and awareness, and £25,000 for advertising and publicity.

A further £30,000 is to go on fundraising, including entertaining, printing and consultancy, with £7,000 earmarked for a web site.

Some £2,000 will also be spent on two "away days" for trust members to discuss long-term strategy.

These costs, and the employment of five full-time staff by the end of the financial year, will be covered by £600,000 of council cash committed over three years.

Tory councillor Brian Salinger said: "One wonders at the motives for spending this sort of cash raising the profile of a centre that hasn't even been started yet."

John Blandford, Tally Ho Trust treasurer, defended the costs, saying quality promotional material was needed for bids to funding organisations, which often worked months or even years in advance.