About the Citadel
The Citadel is situated in St Helens, a Metropolitan borough of Merseyside
with a population of 190,000. As the major professional arts provider in the
town the Citadel has a vital role to play in providing access to the arts.
Established in 1986 in what had been a Salvation Army ‘citadel’ for 100 years
( though originally built in 1856 as a theatre), the Citadel is an independent
arts organisation with charitable status. The Citadel is run by a voluntary
Board of Directors and is a Company Limited by Guarantee.
The Citadel enjoys the long term support of North West Arts Board, St Helens
MBC and The Rainford Trust which provides the building at a peppercorn
rent.
In March 2000 the Citadel reopened after a £1000,000 lottery funded
refurbishment, since that time it has gone from strength to strength with an
artistic programme that offers something to all sections of the community.
Already known for its imaginative and popular performance programme, the
programme has broadened and deepened with new activities such as regular
poetry nights and professional childrens theatre joining the established music
and theatre programmes. Since reopening there has been a massive increase
in participative arts activities, especially for young people.The successful
establishment of youth theatre and youth dance groups as well as the
Saturday Arts Club for children, has helped ‘open up’ the Citadel to the local
community.
Close links have been established with local primary and secondary schools
who use the venue for workshops as well as attending performances. The
refurbishment produced a building that is generally accessible to people with
disabilities and this work has also seen an expansion with the establishment
of a disabled writers group as well as a range of regular workshops.
The Citadel’s mixed programme of arts and entertainment, professional
programme and participative activities has won the support of audiences and
funders alike giving it a regional as well as local profile. All of this has been
achieved through the hard work and dedication of its highly motivated staff for
whom ‘multi tasking’ has become second nature!