TEDDINGTON'S Landmark Arts Centre has outlined its exciting new plans for the future and said thank you to all who supported it during the pandemic,when the centre was threatened with closure.

In a detailed newsletter, Martin Nicholds, Chair of the Trustees at the Landmark, thanked local councillors, MP Munira Wilson and "many local celebrities" for their support during the difficult 2020-2021 period.

Mr Nicholds also paid tribute to the Royal Parks volunteers who cared for the Landmark's grounds, Teddington Together for producing an online musical fundraiser, The Teddington Society, the Hampton Fund, and actress Amanda Root who put together the 'Playing Jane' shows.

He said: "We are deeply grateful to the many people who donated their money and/or their time during closure to support and highlight our cause."

Last year the centre was only able to open for 13 weeks and the number of live events and concerts slumped to three, compared to forty in 2019.

Just 224 people attended live events, less than 5% of the previous year's audience (5058), leading to a heavily reduced revenue for the year.

But the Landmark adapted, moving craft fairs online and introducing some socially distanced events and classes.

And Mr Nicholds added: "The lockdown has allowed us to pause to consider our purpose and the way we operate."

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This will involve broadening the programme at the centre to appeal to younger people and special needs groups, and creating a more 'structured programme' with regular events such as comedy, folk and contemporary music and theatre.

The Landmark will also build a new website with an integrated ticketing system which should be operational in early 2022.

Plans are also in the pipeline for a pedestrian walkway from Ferry road to the front door of the centre, as the lack of an obvious entrance "gives an impression to many people that it's just and old church and a little gloomy" according to the Landmark's research.

The heating and the acoustics will also be improved, says the Newsletter, which also introduced new patrons Jed Mercurio and Amanda Root.

Mr Nicholds concluded: "So we have survived and have good plans in place for the future.

"However, we are experiencing some reluctance from some parts of our audience demographic to go out to public places and, of course, the pandemic is far from over.

"We are cautiously optimistic but will most certainly need to fundraise during the year to meet any deficits in revenue."

Read more about the Landmark Arts Centre's spring plans on its website: www.landmarkartscentre.org

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The Landmark Arts Centre sponsors Teddington Nub News' What's On Section