An arts and entertainment charity have been awarded £20,000 to help bring their renovations dreams to fruition.
Iris Arts Ayr CIC received the substantial funding from Asda’s charity, The Asda Foundation, to enable the charity to transform a community space where local people can come together.
Iris Arts Ayr is one of 31 community groups up and down the country to receive funds from The Asda Foundation’s Spaces and Places grant - with grants seeking to improve community spaces in communities across the UK totalling to over £600,000.
Gillian Dillon, general store manager at Asda Ayr, surprised the charity - who are passionate about film, theatre and music - with a cheque outside their venue at the former Darlington Church and Borderline Theatre on Main Street in Ayr.
The funding will enable The Iris to renovate a former church office space into a studio that can host free community cinema sessions, workshops for children and adults, and space for other community groups to run their activities.
Ross Hunter, director of Iris Arts Ayr CIC, said: “Creating this new space will help reduce isolation and bring communities together through the arts, providing more opportunities for young people.
“This huge donation will make such an amazing difference to the local community. Thanks so much to everyone at Asda who have made this happen!”
The Iris provide many projects and events across South Ayrshire including film education via their Screen Academy, drive-in and pop-up cinemas, theatre projects, and providing schools and community groups with fun silent discos.
Gillian Dillon, general store manager at Asda Ayr, said: “It’s an absolute pleasure to award The Iris Arts Ayr CIC with £20,000.
“The work they do for the community is amazing and everyone at Asda Ayr know they will use the money to better lives in our local area.”
Alexandra Preston, senior manager for Asda Foundation, added: “Community spaces can be a lifeline, but we know many are in desperate need of funding to maintain, develop and repair these spaces to enable community groups to continue delivering their vital services and activities.
“We want to continue playing our part in uniting communities and reducing loneliness by improving community spaces for people to be together.”
Read next:
- Scots whisky giants are given green light for new distillery operation in Ayrshire
- Eyesore site next to Ayrshire houses to be turned into car wash facility
- Name change and £500,000 makeover for popular bar after takeover
- Timeline on new Ayrshire super school unveiled as pupils set for post-summer holiday entry
- 'Negotiations' ongoing as cinema chain eyes up Ayr Odeon following shock closure
Don't miss the latest Ayrshire headlines – sign up to our free daily newsletter
