In making these estimates, several things have been taken into account. At this juncture, from a revenue perspective, this programme will be going from a complete standing start. There is no precedent for anything like this in the locale, the building has been dead ground for a number of years and has no "habit" visitors, and we must begin to convince a largely non-theatregoing community that this is there for them.

Therefore we are taking a very pessimistic stance in terms of our first year predictions, and all of the following figures will be based on visitors to the centre and its ameneties EXCLUDING schools parties as part of the educational programme. Of course we recognise that the numbers of schools visitors we are anticipating will have an impact on sales of refreshments and merchandise, however we feel it is important to get a clear picture of potential with those factors removed.

This is because while we anticipate looking to the funding system to help us get the project up and running and to continue its support while we find our feet, we do not see this being a continuous arrangement, intending to cut funding year on year after years two or three, until eventually the only parts of this project receiving any kind of funding would be the community and education based programmes, with the commercial projects paying for themselves and generating increasing revenue for the Centre.

Two things work in our favour. A funding system which is dedicated to supporting arts and educational works in the community, and an ideal location which will make this prospect attractive to sponsors. Sponsorship will play an increasingly large part of our financial thinking but we recognise that it will take time to attract sponsorship and therefore predict support from commercial benefactors in the second year. Our programmes are designed with corporate customers in mind, and we are looking to create a surrounding that will welcome the corporate client as much as the casual visitor, with stylish surroundings and excellent catering and bar facilities.