One of the county's leading theatres has secured more than £100,000 to transform its foyer and cafe.

The Gulbenkian, at the University of Kent in Canterbury, has received £100,100 from the Arts Council to carry out the refurbishment.

The arts centre will transform its central foyer space so it "better connects the wide range of people who visit and use the venue".

The work, which includes installation of new lighting and furniture, will support the theatre's ambition to offer more diverse cultural programmes and enhance its potential to generate income.

Gulbenkian director, Oliver Carruthers, explains: “This funding from Arts Council England will enable us to develop our café/foyer at the heart of our venue into a thriving creative space.

"It will allow us to offer an increasingly diverse programme, more creative opportunities for young people and local communities, and to enhance the visitor experience for our many different audiences.”

The funding comes from the Arts Council’s capital funding, designed to give organisations the right buildings and equipment to be able to produce and present great work and to support artists, audiences and the communities where they are located.

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