by Angela Cole and Trevor Sturgess

acole@thekmgroup.co.uk

Gentle dance classes, book readings and mum and baby groups are among the initiatives being introduced by the company taking over running Maidstone’s Hazlitt Arts Centre in a bid to boost the venue’s popularity.
It has been announced that Parkwood Leisure will be managing the theatre complex, possibly by the end of the year. It was one of two bids the council received for the contract, which is claimed will save taxpayers £3.2 million over the next 15 years.

Joanne Martin, sales and marketing director at Parkwood Leisure, , said: “We are delighted to have been selected as the preferred bidder to operate the Hazlitt Arts Centre and look forward to bringing the local community a wide range of entertainment events, diverse cultural programmes, and a new calendar of special events that will draw in new audiences and engage fully with the community at large.”

Plans are in place to encourage businesses to hold meetings at the site during the day and new studio classes will also be introduced.

Maidstone council ’s cabinet member for economic and commercial development, Cllr Malcolm Greer (Con), said: “I am confident that Parkwood will deliver a noticeable improvement to service levels at the Hazlitt Arts Centre and reduce the bottom- line cost for Maidstone council tax payers.”

The 40 staff who work at the centre will be offered the chance to transfer to transfer to the new company under the same terms and conditions.