The Beacon’s future is looking bright
Issued May 23 2025
The future of The Beacon Arts and Community Centre is looking bright, as plans are presented this month for putting the centre at the heart of arts and culture in the district.
The arts and community centre has provided Wantage and the surrounding areas with an important and lively focus for arts and the community since 2014.
A report going before Vale of White Horse District Council’s Cabinet on 30 May, sets out plans to enhance the future of the arts centre. Councillors will review the success of measures that have been introduced over the last year and consider proposals for the next phase of improvements.
In February 2024, the centre announced a new action plan which aimed to secure a sustainable and ‘best value’ future for the centre offering a good range of live performances, community classes and hire opportunities making The Beacon a go to location for residents across the town and local villages.
Since the action plan was announced, improvements at The Beacon have included introducing National Theatre Live screenings, monthly afternoon cinema events, live music acts such as Taylor Swift and ABBA tributes and a sell out family production ‘A Winter’s Tale’ at Christmas.
Last month, with support of The Beacon, Wantage Literary Festival re-introduced a café to the venue and volunteers now run ‘Brews and Books’ week-day mornings, contributing to the centre’s aim to be an important part of the local community and supporting community groups and activities.
Plans are now also underway to give The Beacon a revamp with an investment of £285,000 to improve customer experience at the venue. Work will include changes to the layout of the reception area, a facelift for the toilets and some changes to the exterior of the entrance making the venue more attractive for visitors.
Cllr Helen Pighills, Cabinet Member for Community Health and Wellbeing said: “The Beacon is such a great venue and we want to see it going from strength to strength.
“Like many community and arts organisations, it was hit hard by the pandemic but we are now seeing visitors return and the bigger programme of events and activities and the introduction of the café means that The Beacon can be a go to location for people to pop in and connect with others and the council can support community initiatives at the heart of Wantage.”
As part of the second phase of the action plan, councillors will be asked to approve a pathway for a new Culture, Heritage and Creative Industries (CHCI) Strategy, which will be adopted in summer 2026 and will focus on working closely with national organisations such as the Arts Council England and The National Lottery Heritage Fund for funding opportunities allowing the council to raise the level of ambition for the centre and align the plans they have for the district as a whole, to improve and enhance the arts and culture activities across the Vale. The council will also work with Oxfordshire County Council’s Museums and Heritage Service to help develop the Strategy.
Cllr Pighills added: “The continued improvements to The Beacon and the introduction of the new Culture, Heritage and Creative Industries (CHCI) Strategy shows how important we see the arts and culture sector in the district both now and in the future.”
The Beacon continues to promote initiatives that support the health and wellbeing of users, strengthening community engagement and inclusion, with the focus on “It’s Your Beacon” so residents can help make the community centre the place that works for them and meets the needs of all who use it.
The CHCI plans are a long-term vision for the Council’s ambition for the arts and culture sector in the Vale and will focus work to be undertaken from 2026-2030. The Strategy will incorporate work being carried out by South Oxfordshire District Council and Cornerstone Arts Centre. The two will work closely together to provide venues that are value for money, have a great programme of entertainment for all ages, support skills and learning and are seen as being integral to their local communities.
The Cabinet Meeting is due to take place on Friday 30 May and papers for this proposal are now available to view on the council’s website.
Find out more about The Beacon on their website www.beaconwantage.co.uk
