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Commercial vs. Community Use -- Getting the Balance Right
The Corn Exchange was saved by the community, with the refurbishment
paid for by the people of St Ives, so it is YOUR building. The Community
Interest Company (CIC) which runs the building recognizes that commercial
bookings will supplement income and support increasing levels of
community use, but has adopted a bookings policy which will ensure
that bookings are balanced in favour of the community.
If you are a community group wishing to use the building we will
be glad to hear from you. If your group has an idea for an event
but doesn’t know how to stage it, ACE can offer help with
planning, stewarding and advertising, and can put you in touch with
others who may wish to join you, so please get in touch !!
St Ives Corn Exchange - Home of the Arts in St Ives?
St Ives Corn Exchange is home to St Ives Youth Theatre. In November
2010 the Theatre Company staged its first production in the Corn
Exchange, to great acclaim, with the venue deemed a big success.
The Corn Exchange is an ideal venue for a wide range of musical,
drama and dance performances and their rehearsals, plus art exhibitions.
The CIC and ACE would like to encourage the use of St Ives Corn
Exchange for the Arts, so if you are planning a production, an exhibition
or a musical event, why not consider our splendid new building?
St Ives Corn Exchange Looks to the
Future. Have you been inside yet?
After being closed for nine years, this impressive community facility
was reopened in June 2010 and already in December 2010 it’s
clear how much the facility was missed by the St Ives Community.
With its ideal location in the centre of St Ives it has already
re-established itself as a bustling and popular venue and meeting
place for all, with bookings increasing day by day.
The challenge in the re-design of the Corn Exchange was to retain
the original features, while at the same time bringing it up to
date as a flexible space for community and other uses. We needed
a flexible design which would provide a sustainable and financially
viable future for the Corn Exchange.
The result is that the Monday Indoor Market and the Friday morning
St Ives W.I. Country Market have returned to their former home,
and community groups of all kinds are now using the building. The
first Flower and Produce Show by the St Ives Allotment Association
held here for many years was a huge success, and is set once again
to become an annual event.
Major charity bookings so far have included a Quiz Night, a Fashion
Show, an Antiques Road Show and a sell-out Youth Gig - all raising
valuable funds for Charity. Bookings of all kinds are proving popular.
So, whether you’re an individual or part of a group or business
looking to book an event, or if you just haven’t visited the
Corn Exchange yet - please come along. The Corn Exchange Manager
or one of the many Corn Exchange volunteers will be pleased to show
you around.
Corn Exchange Facilities
Rooms The Corn Exchange has been designed for maximum flexibility and to a high specification, and lends itself both to community and commercial uses. Its versatile multi-function rooms and areas can accommodate several separate uses at the same time, which can be booked alone or in combination to suit the size of the event or function.
Catering Facilities The Corn Exchange has full commercial catering facilities, so users can either prepare their own food or hire a caterer. If you would like the catering arranged, we can do that too!
For meetings or small events, water boilers are located in the kitchen and upstairs serving area to allow users to make their own tea and coffee. The Corn Exchange is fully licensed with bars in the main Charter Hall and upstairs ACE Suite.
Stage Equipment, Sound and Lighting
Staging, lighting and sound facilities are available for use,
and we will provide technical help in setting up. You can also bring
your own equipment to suit your particular needs.
The main Charter Hall has an easy-to-use voice re-enforcement system,
comprising radio microphones, loudspeakers and an audio induction
loop, ideal for meetings or making announcements at events. A CD
player is available and can be plugged into this system. Again to
provide maximum flexibility, the Corn Exchange has moveable staging.
Booking rates vary depending on whether you are a private individual,
community group or Charity, so please ring for availability and
cost. For bookings and enquiries contact: Paula Luter on 01480 300963
or info@thecornexchange.org.uk
Working Together for the Corn Exchange
ACE - Friends of St Ives Corn Exchange and the CIC
The Corn Exchange is owned by St Ives Town Council which has set
up a Community Interest Company (CIC), a new type of Company to
manage the Corn Exchange as a Social Enterprise, with any surpluses
from the running of the building are re-invested for the benefit
of the users, the community of St Ives and the surrounding villages.
ACE, formerly Action Corn Exchange, the group which set out to save
the building, has been transformed into a Charity whose main object
is to work to ensure the future success and sustainability of this
treasured community building.
Once the restoration was underway ACE turned its attentions to fundraising
to support the fitout of the building, but is now committed to encouraging
the use of the building by community groups, to enhance the community
life of St Ives.
ACE now has some 400 members, among them a great many volunteers
who assist with the day-to-day running of the building and events.
ACE organises its own events in the Corn Exchange, the proceeds
of which are invested back into the building. So far ACE has contributed
over £50.000 towards the fitout of the Corn Exchange.
ACE and the CIC are working together to make the Corn Exchange a
success and ensure its future viability and sustainability. We need
your help, so why not join us ?
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