We are delighted to announce the exciting news that, since taking ownership of the Burnley Empire in December 2018, Burnley Empire Ltd have been awarded a grant from the National Heritage Lottery Fund in the final round of a 'Resilient Heritage' grant scheme. You can read the full press release here.
'The funding will be used to improve the knowledge of the building structure and condition, look at viable future uses in light of town centre developments, establish a charitable organisation and undertake trustee training and development to equip community owners with the knowledge and expertise to manage and develop the project. Whilst people won't notice dramatic changes in the building itself these are essential steps towards bringing the building back into good heart and once again allowing the public to enjoy this amazing space. BETT have been supported in their work by Theatres Trust, Theatresearch, the National Trust and Burnley Council.'
Sophie Gibson, Burnley Empire Limited Director said: “This is fantastic news for the building and the town. This support, thanks to National Lottery players will kick start the project towards restoration and help towards the journey to bring the Empire into 21st century use. As always, it’s not going to happen overnight, and a lot of hard work has to go on behind the scene before progress is visible. Thanks to the support and help from National Trust the application was submitted at the beginning of the year and we have been counting down the weeks and days before receiving the good news. Being awarded this grant shows that we are making progress and that the heritage and future use of the Burnley Empire is something to be valued and worth fighting for.”

Barry Kilby, Burnley Football Club Vice-Chair said: “On behalf of myself, my son Stephen and the Club I am delighted to see movement towards saving the iconic infrastructure of the building. The restoration of Burnley Empire theatre would be extremely beneficial to the town and a fantastic asset to the local community. I can see a great synergy between the Empire and the Football Club.” 
Claire Appleby, Theatres Trust Architecture Adviser said: “We are delighted that the group has secured this funding. Burnley Empire Ltd has done a great job so far but this additional support will lay the foundations to move the project forward successfully.”

Who We Are...

We are a Burnley based group of enthusiasts who want to see the Empire restored to its former glory!
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The Burnley Empire Theatre Trust was formed in late 2015 (following a hugely successful campaign by The Friends of Burnley Empire, which garnered almost two thousand signatures in an online petition in a matter of days) to raise public awareness in this historic building and undertake the steps necessary to preserve and renovate it, with the involvement of the local community, higher education institutions and local government bodies high amongst its priorities. With the support of Theatres Trust and National Trust Burnley Empire Ltd was formed in December 2018 to take ownership of the Empire from the Duchy of Lancaster. BETT is committed to helping secure the building as an opportunity for training and educational and employment opportunities, which will be supported when the restoration is complete, to facilitate a fully functioning performance venue for students at the colleges, private /corporate groups and professional and amateur theatre companies, providing them with an historically valuable performance space and adding a beautiful restored historic venue onto the circuit in East Lancashire.
The BETT committee are all passionate volunteers from a diverse set of backgrounds, theatre, art, music, variety, film making, architecture...for a small group of enthusiasts that's a lot of passion and experience working to save this magnificent Victorian/Edwardian theatre - could you be a part of it?
Phase 1 of the project was the commissioning of a two part Viability Study to establish the work needed to restore this historic theatre as well as looking at its future as a performance venue and how it can best serve the region. Thanks to the help of our partners at Theatres Trust, we received an Architectural Heritage Fund grant which enabled us to move on to commissioning Phase 2 which established a route forward and an innovative plan for the Empire's restoration. Thanks to your crowdfunder pledges and our fundraising nights we raised our contribution for it, but the project still has a long way to go!
You can read the Viability study here:
www.theatrestrust.org.uk/how-we-help/theatres-at-risk/179-burnley-empire
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 ​Theatres Trust launched the 2019 Theatre Buildings at Risk Register on the 22nd of January. The Burnley Empire campaign was featured quite significantly in the launch,  with Burnley Empire Ltd Director Sophie Gibson being one of the speakers at the launch of the Register.​
If you would like to know more please contact our Press Officer at saveme@burnleyempiretheatretrust.co.uk
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STOP PRESS: The exciting news is that Burnley Empire Ltd has received a £44k grant from National Heritage Lottery Fund in the final round of a ‘Resilient Heritage’ grant scheme. You can download the Press Release here:
burnley-empire-press-release-9th-april-2019-bett-press.docx
File Size: 1241 kb
File Type: docx
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BETT members spreading the word about the Burnley Empire

With your help the Empire can live again for future generations!
We are passionate about saving the Burnley Empire as a performance and community venue for future generations to enjoy - read more about the heritage of this gem and see what you can do to help us save it. Who knows who might find fame treading its boards in years to come...could it be you? Your children? Your grand children? Get involved...

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