THE boss of Colchester Arts Centre has shown his support for Firstsite arts gallery, saying it is yet to find its voice.

Director Anthony Roberts was asked what his successful organisation does that Firstsite does not at a meeting of Colchester Council’s scrutiny committee.

He said: “We have been doing this 35 years. Firstsite has only been doing it three.

“It hasn’t always been so rosy for us.

“Firstsite has not found its voice yet, but it is only a baby.

“It will grow and I think it will be fantastic.”

During the meeting, politicians grilled Mr Roberts and Steve Mannix, executive director of the Mercury Theatre, about the value for money the council gets from their facilities.

During the financial year, a total of 153,000 people have visited the two facilities, half of whom are from outside the borough.

More than 12,000 were firsttime visitors.

Robin Fenwick, marketing and communications director at the Mercury, said: “I think this shows new demand.

“We’re serving both residents and attracting a large number of people into the borough.”

The centres directly employ 144 people and have a further 219 volunteers.

The Mercury has a projected turnover of £3,438,991 for 2014/15.

Audience numbers were up on previous years at 110,000.

The average capacity for shows was 70 per cent, compared to a UK average of 58 per cent.

The Christmas pantomime Cinderella was recording breaking and was seen by 25,000 people, 30 per cent of whom had not been to the theatre before. It was so popular, that next year’s show may run for an extra week.

They were also asked if there was any way they could use Firstsite as much-needed additional space. Councillor Dennis Willetts said: “It is quite clear we have two organisations that are bursting at the seams, yet we have a third venue in the town which is hardly used and is to some people a huge embarrassment.”

They said they were in conversation with Firstsite’s bosses about this possibility.

In 2014/14 Colchester Council provided £239,100 to the Mercury and £67,000 to the arts centre.

Firstsite debate dropped

THE committee was also due to discuss Firstsite, but it was removed from the agenda in a bid to allow councillors to focus more on the other sites.

At the start of the meeting, chairman Beverley Davies explained she made the decision to make sure the two other venues were properly scrutinised.

She said: “Previously Firstsite has tended to take over. They weren’t getting their fair share of the whip. “They really needed to have their time in front of the scrutiny panel.”

Firstsite is due to be scrutinised independently in September.