Déda is hoping to expand its theatre and dance studio facilities at its venue in Chapel Street, Derby by re-developing part of the neighbouring Queen Street leisure centre.
The organisation, which is one of the UK’s leading dance centres, has applied to Arts Council England for a £282,000 grant to go towards the cost of the £400,000 project.
If successful, the squash courts at the rear of the leisure centre, which is due to be replaced by new state of the art sports facilities elsewhere in the city, will be transformed into a new dance / production studio and conference facility connected to Déda’s existing building by a glass atrium.
The scheme will also allow for the existing Theatre to be improved dramatically by expanding the stage area - increasing Déda’s scope for staging larger-scale dance productions – both by visiting artists and the organisation’s own youth dance academies.
They will also be the base for the planned development of a BA degree in Dance which is under discussion between Déda and the University of Derby.
Arts Council England is due to announce successful capital bids early next year and the remaining funds for the project will be raised through working with partners, trusts & foundations and Déda’s own investment.
Déda Director Stephen Munn said: “The expansion will be an important part of the organisation’s future development as part of our overall strategy to reduce our reliance on funding from the public purse.
“The expanded facilities would give us the capacity to develop a number of new and exciting areas including the degree course with the University and in attracting larger scale performances to the venue.
“I believe that we have a strong case to attract the Arts Council England funding which is a vital piece in the funding jigsaw and we await the announcement early next year.”