BOSSES at the Waterside arts centre have welcomed news of funding for the culture sector.

Last week the Government released details about a package worth £1.57 billion pounds of funding to help the sector.

Darren Adams, Venue Manager at Waterside, Sale, Trafford and arts lead for Trafford Council said: "Along with other arts leaders across the UK, we welcome the government’s response in tackling the current crisis facing this sector.

"Financial support is key to rescue and recovery, but even more so, is the recognition of the important role the sector plays, both economically and by way of enriching people’s lives within local communities.

“Like many cultural venues throughout Britain, we have been faced with enormous challenges which will continue for months, even years, as we begin to shape our future recovery.

"Cultural venues impact hugely on the local economy, helping many other sectors such as hospitality, tourism and travel to thrive.

“Waterside is a multi-purpose arts venue and we, along with many other arts centres, are uniquely placed to mobilise and support the recovery of the sector through our adaptability and position at the heart of the community.

"Our work locally is so much wider than live performance; we deliver over 700 participatory events and play a significant role in the wider cultural ecology of Trafford and Greater Manchester.

"We support children, young people, older people, adults with dementia and those with additional needs through our work, so we see our role as key in building confidence and reducing isolation within the community as lockdown is eased.

“Overall this response to the crisis is positive and has given hope to a sector that has always shown resilience and reverence, but we must remember that this financial support is only the first step towards what we know will be a hugely challenging recovery process.”

Meanwhile, the Lowry Theatre are THE Lowry are offering 11-16 year old dancers throughout the North West, a chance to dance their way out of lockdown via their Centre for Advanced Training in Dance (CAT).

They are inviting interested parties with exceptional potential to take part in free 75 minute dance workshops on Fridays, live on Zoom, from now until the end of August. Participants will also have the chance to take part in a Digital Experience Day Workshop. This will replace the traditional live audition.

In 2019, Krishna Natarajan from Sale was chosen to take part. Now aged 16 and a pupil of Altrincham Girls Grammar School, where she will take GCSE in dance, she can continue with CAT until she is 18.

Then she will be given the chance to apply for prestigious dance schools such as the London School of Contemporary Dance and the Central School of Ballet.

From the age of seven, Krishna was captivated by South Asian Dance. After lessons in Manchester, she attended an Indian dance CAT in Birmingham and that’s how she discovered the Lowry CAT.

Krishna said: “When I first knew I had been accepted, it was very exciting but it was new to me and quite scary. I had to try different forms of dance.”

She said: “The Lowry course has led to me becoming an all round dancer.”

Unfortunately, due to COVID-19 she will miss this year’s summer show when the participants would have worked with Arielle Smith, a choreographer who had assisted Mathew Bourne with Romeo and Juliet.

For three hours on a Wednesday, Krishna studies contemporary techniques with a creative session which explores her skills in choreography.All day on a Saturday, she studies Ballet, Pilates, Yoga, . Contemporary Technique and a creative session.

“I would love to become a choreographer,” she said.

- Interested candidates can apply for Weekly workshops and Digital Experience via Google: The form is available from..https://forms.gle/hWk51Agr8wN6wPhc6 ‘