Alara Community Arts CIC

  • January 2026

    ✅ Alara Community Arts CIC incorporated.

  • February – April 2026

    ✅ Governance structure established.
    ✅ Business planning and community research developed.
    ✅ Vision, objectives and proposed community outcomes refined.

  • May 2026

    ✅ Strategic Business Case completed.
    ✅ Business Plan and Executive Summary produced.
    ✅ Governance Handbook developed.
    ✅ Core safeguarding, data protection, equality and safety policies completed.

  • June 2026

    ✅ Initial discussions with Knowsley Council.
    ✅ 9 Market Square identified as a prospective creative-community venue.
    ✅ Floor plans obtained and early feasibility work begun.
    ✅ Funding research and programme planning expanded.

  • Early July 2026

    ✅ Supportive conversations held with local representatives and community contacts.
    ✅ Introductions and potential partnership routes opened.
    ✅ Heads of Terms discussions for 9 Market Square began.

  • Mid July 2026

    ✅ Meeting held with Kirkby Community Builders Chris Kiernan and Lesley Barnabas.
    ✅ First community and grant applications progressed.
    ✅ Funding pipeline, stakeholder register and project-management systems established.

  • Late July 2026

    ✅ Proposed Heads of Terms accepted in principle, subject to Council approval and legal documentation.
    ✅ Community capital and programme funding applications submitted.
    ✅ Local partner and founding-partner outreach expanded.

  • Early August 2026

    ✅ Access route for the prospective venue confirmed.
    ✅ Preliminary fit-out planning and budget work advanced.
    ✅ A workforce-development application passed initial verification and moved to assessment.

  • Mid August 2026

    ✅ National Lottery Awards for All application submitted for a community programme.
    🟡 Arts Council applicant profile and project setup progressing through validation.
    🟡 Further community-fund work and partnership conversations underway.

  • What happens next

    🟡 Await the formal property approval process and draft lease documentation.
    🟡 Complete site assessment and detailed fit-out planning.
    🟡 Respond to funding decisions and due-diligence requests.
    🟡 Continue co-designing programmes with residents, artists and local partners.

  • Opening ambition

    🎭 Alara intends to open the Kirkby space in phases once legal, funding, safety and fit-out milestones are complete.
    📅 A confirmed opening date will be published when these dependencies are secure.