An arts organisation will receive a significant amount of investment to reduce its negative environmental impact.

Kirkgate Arts, based in Cockermouth, announced it will be the recipient of £220,000 from Arts Council England, intended to be spent on upgrading its stage lights to more energy efficient ones, which will also reduce the heat coming from them and being felt by performers on stage.

They will also improve the air circulation in the auditorium to improve comfort for performers and audiences, and install a lift for customers with reduced mobility, and for moving equipment.

Operations manager Katie Gentry said: “There is now a lot of work to do on getting the ball rolling with the numerous aspects of the improvements, but we are confident we can do most of the work with minimal disruption to our usual programme of events.”

Darren Henley, chief executive of Arts Council England, said: “This infrastructure investment will help a whole range of different cultural organisations across England to flourish, increasing opportunities for people to enjoy creatively excellent cultural events close to where they live.

“It’s particularly important that we’re making this happen in communities where cultural investment has historically been low.”