HUNTINGDON ARTS could be the inspirational brand name set to save the Swan Theatre when the two Worcester venues unite.

The vision, conjured up by the Huntingdon Hall management team, is to run its hall and resurrect the closed theatre as two independent venues operating under one management banner.

Worcester City Council yesterday formally confirmed Huntingdon director Chris Jaeger as the preferred bidder to revive the fortunes of the Swan theatre.

He has promised to retain its name and outlined a future brimming full of dance, theatre, music, comedy and art house cinema to once again attract the crowds to the Swan.

"It has been a painful experience to see the Swan go through this last three or four months, especially now its production house has finished," he said.

"We want to now use the name of Huntingdon Arts and operate Huntingdon Hall, the Swan and the Swan Studio as, essentially, an arts centre operating on two sites."

Mr Jaeger, who has helped turned round the fortunes of Huntingdon Hall during the last seven-and-a-half years, sees the two venues as complementing each other.

While the popular performances of folk, roots, jazz and blues are set to continue at the acoustically rich hall, he believes large-scale bands may prefer to opt for the bigger capacity of the Swan.

Amateur, youth and professional theatre, dance productions, cinema and one-off events are also seen as integral to the Swan's future, although he is conscious of budget restraints.

"The council has given us a budget of £54,000 and we feel we can operate a varied programme by raising funds through hiring rooms, profits, donations and trusts on a budget of £159,000," said Mr Jaeger.

He believes the Swan Theatre building has a limited life span of around 20 years and eventually a new multi-purpose arts centre for Worcester will need to be created in the future.

A city council Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, February 25, will decide if Huntingdon Hall's business plans are up to scratch. Other bidders can still come forward.

Collaboration of artists announced at wake of theatre

A NEW hope for the professional arts scene in Worcester was announced at the wake of the Swan Theatre.

The creation of Artworcs was announced at a gathering of theatre staff and guests marking the end of professional theatre at the venue.

The scheme, dedicated to "making the best arts in of and for Worcester" was announced by conceptual artist Sheila Farrell who will be one the four members of Artworcs' steering group.

She will be joined by producer and director Peter Wild, Deborah Rees, the Swan's administrative director, and playwright Lance Woodman.

"It's a very broad based project taking in various art forms," said Mr Woodman.

"There are so many talented artists who live in Worcester but who work outside the city," he said.

"It is still in an embryonic stage and we want to keep it as open as possible."

Artworcs aims to create high quality inspirational arts projects in Worcester, and foster co-operation and collaboration between working artists and the local community.

"The Swan was originally the building to do that," said Ms Rees.

"But now it appears it will be taken over by amateur groups which is great, but there is a need for new professional work to be produced.

"Artworcs is not about the Swan in a different place. It will not have a specific building."

As well as creating new material, the organisation will also run skills workshops and classes with projects in schools and colleges, plus outreach and youth work.

Anyone interested in Artworcs can check out the website www.artworcs.ukartists.com, email artworcs@ukartists.com, or call 01905 454769.

Decision made 'behind scenes'

A LABOUR councillor has accused the leader of Worcester City Council of running it like a "secret society".

Councillor Adrian Gregson said the decision on who will run the Swan Theatre had been made behind closed doors.

The Labour group leader said the cabinet meeting on Tuesday, February 25, will be the first time the proposals to hand control over to Chris Jaeger, director of Huntingdon Hall, will be discussed in public.

The cabinet is composed of six councillors from the Tory-controlled administration.

This timetable means the community services policy and review committee, responsible for scrutinising proposals relating to the theatre and which Coun Gregson chairs, will not be able to discuss it before the decision is made by cabinet.

"I am very wary of this whole situation," he said. "Stephen Inman and the cabinet seem to be running this as some kind secret society."

"I don't understand where the momentum has come from for the city council to install a board of management - this has never been discussed," he added.

Coun Gregson said the council should have the opportunity to discuss all the possible options for the theatre.

"This is definitely becoming quite a common problem that cabinet members say and do things either by Press release or by making an announcement a full council meeting.

"And this way there is no opportunity for local councillors to understand and get involved in what the cabinet is doing," he said.