East Ayrshire Council and East Ayrshire Leisure Trust (EALT) are hosting a community information session to give members of the public an opportunity to view design proposals for Cultural Kilmarnock, including the refurbishment of the Palace Theatre and Grand Hall complex in Kilmarnock.

The drop-in event will take place on Thursday 29 August between 4:30m and 7pm, in the foyer of the Palace Theatre.

Large scale drawings and artists impressions will be on display along with a fly-round video presentation of the proposals. Visitors will also have an opportunity to discuss the project with members of the project team and to provide feedback on the proposals.

Levelling - Up Fund

In August 2022, East Ayrshire Council and East Ayrshire Leisure Trust prepared a Phase 2 Levelling-Up Fund (LUF) bid for Cultural Kilmarnock. The bid aims to deliver a modern facility for arts and entertainment in the centre of Kilmarnock and included concept designs for a new foyer extension and internal improvements to the Palace Theatre and Grand Hall, supported by landscaping proposals to surrounding areas including links with Centrestage and the Dick Institute.

In January 2023, the Cultural Kilmarnock project received £20m as part of the UK Government’s Levelling-Up Fund and since then the project team has been engaging with consultants to develop a series of design options for consideration and these proposals will be on display at the Palace Theatre on Thursday 29 August.

Renovation proposals

Internally, the Palace Theatre will benefit from improved “behind the scenes” operation equipment, through the construction of a state-of-the-art fly tower. New seating will be installed in the stalls and the historic seats in the balcony will be refurbished. The Grand Hall Complex will be promoted to host arts and entertainments events, through the refurbishment of all the function rooms.

The proposals will also seek to address the overall condition of the building fabric at the Palace Theatre and Grand Hall and this work is supported by separate funding bids to Historic Environment Scotland, in addition to the Council’s Capital Investment Programme.

External aspects of the building will be refurbished, targeting improvements to surface drainage at roof level, cleaning of the stone façade, repairs and renewal of windows and energy enhancements to improve efficiency through-out.

The streetscape will be changing around the Palace Theatre and Grand Hall building, with the creation of a new single-story front of house extension, designed to encourage users into the venues and protect them against queueing in the changing Scottish weather. This front of house extension will include a new café, which will be open to the public through-out the day and performance evening.

To the rear of the Palace Theatre there will be a new back-of house extension, which will improve the changing facilities for production companies, along with a new store and production workshop, sewing room and laundry.

The internal services will also be fully upgrades, to include a new and efficient heating system, new electric, telephony and data installations, new toilets, and a general décor refurbishment of the existing spaces, thereafter.

Works should commence on site later this year, with an anticipated completion date of start of 2027.