A popular theatre and arts venue is proposing a six-figure upgrade to help secure its future.

The charity which operates Workington’s Carnegie Theatre & Arts Centre have big plans to future-proof the facility and appeal to the wider community.

Proposals include a £500,000 upgrade to its sound and lighting, plus looking at how it uses its space to encourage a more diverse user base.

The Carnegie Theatre Trust took over the Finkle Street theatre almost five years ago from Allerdale council and its board has, among other things, overhauled the fabric of the listed building, created a new cafe and introduced its popular – and often sold out – music centre for children and adults.

Lee Martin-White, trust chairman, said it was now time to take a step back and evaluate its role, governance and structure to make sure it remained viable for the future.

He said: “We want to be west Cumbria’s theatre and arts centre – not just Workington’s. We have a lot to offer the entire community, we’re not just a place that puts on shows.

“We’ve worked really hard over the last five years to get to the position we are in now.

“This is the natural time to look to the future.”

Councillors have welcomed plans to secure the venue’s future.

Town and borough councillor Mary Bainbridge said: “The Carnegie is a wonderful place and does so much for the community. I have seen many things there over the years.

“It’s a great place for the town and we need to keep it like that. Anything to improve it is good because it will make it more attractive to users.

“Improvements would be a great boost for the town. We need to keep it up to date and in line with what people expect.”

The trust moved in when Allerdale Borough Council handed it control in 2015.

It is an independent charity that relies on people using the venue for its survival.

Initially, grants from local authorities helped it to survive, but these are now dwindling away as austerity continues to bite.

Lee is keen to look to the future. He added: said: “We’ve looked at the programming and the building. We know what works, what doesn’t and how the building also works for us. “Now is the time for us to concentrate on the strategic future of the Carnegie. Thanks to a grant from the Architectural Heritage Fund, we are on the first stage of that journey.

“We need to look at how we develop the audience – encourage more people to come along to events and shows here, how to maximise the income from the venue and how to develop the arts centre aspect too.

“We are a charity and we are running this on behalf of the community for the community.

“There’s a perception we are still part of the council. We’re not.

“We want to develop what we can offer here, for example, our music centre is extremely popular and gives people the opportunity to be creative.

“The theatre is in the centre of the town and we want to be at the centre of the community.”

The Carnegie commissioned artist Dave Hollins to create paintings of iconic Workington views and the pieces hang in the cafe.

Lee added: “We have other wall space and would love to promote local artists.”

Lee said work would continue over the next six to 12 months to develop the plan. The trust will talk to users of the Carnegie, as well as the wider community, to help shape the proposals.