The Maltings Arts Theatre in St Albans is to be transformed into a high tech cinema with digital and 3D capability as part of a makeover that will see it retain the ability to include live performance in the new programme.

The aim of the refurbishment and new programming mix is to bring the Maltings Arts Theatre up to date and to extend the arts base that will help turn it into a self-financing venue.

St Albans City and District Council currently subsidises the venue at the rate of £100,000 to £150,000 per annum, with each live theatre performance costing the Council on average a £9 per seat subsidy.

Present budgetary pressures mean that the Council cannot afford to continue to subsidise the theatre as it is indefinitely. The Council has explored a number of options to help ensure the venue’s continued survival as an important part of the District’s arts provision.

Having considered a report on options for the venue, Cabinet agreed to proceed with a range of improvements to turn the Maltings Arts Theatre into a digital cinema with capability for live performance at its meeting on 4 January.

The option of a digital cinema is the most likely to generate enough revenue for the venue to eventually become self-financing.

Installation of Digital 3D cinema projection, live feed satellite equipment and new acoustic walls, electrical and mechanical upgrades and improved seating and café and lounge facilities, and will be supported by improved signage, promotion and ticketing to create a modern digital arts cinema in the centre of the city. Live performance will also be an important part of the mix for the arts venue.

A capital outlay of £380-405,000 (dependant on grants) will be required to develop the new arts venue, and the Council will be maintaining the existing funding of £100,000 in year 1. The level of funding will be reduced in stages over a four year period.