The historic Black-E community and contemporary arts centre is seeking a £100,000 contribution from Liverpool City Council for “significant refurbishment and enhancements”.

Cabinet members will be asked later this week to approve capital funding which will secure £450,000 in agreed backing from the Arts Council.

The Black-E organisation (formerly the Great Georges Community Cultural Project Ltd) has successfully applied for Arts Council funding for a programme of works which will include new flooring and heating, external works and improved disabled access.

A Grade-II listed building, The Black-E (formerly the Great George Street Congregational Chapel) is currently on a long lease to The Black-E organisation from the council.

The report, to be discussed by the cabinet this Friday (4 March), states that The Black-E is in need of “significant refurbishment and enhancement.”

The Black-E was first known as ‘the Blackie’ in the 1960s owing to the building’s thick layer of smoke and grime which has since been removed.

In 1968 with the help of Sir Peter Moores, The Black-E opened as the country’s first community arts project and today continues to host a range of exhibitions, workshops and performance events.

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