Ambitious plans to open the doors of Kendal's Brewery Arts Centre to a wider audience will press ahead despite funding cuts.

When Brewery Arts Centre chief executive Sam Mason took up the post last year he pledged to create a more socially diverse audience and boost participation in rural areas through audience mapping and outreach work.

But cost-cutting measures at South Lakeland District Council, one of the Brewery's funding bodies, have cast a shadow of uncertainty over the centre's plans.

SLDC previously supported the arts venue to the tune of £60,000 per year, but this financial year the authority's contribution will be cut to £ 45,000.

SLDC resources portfolio holder Coun Kevin Lancaster described the cut as "regrettable but necessary" but said, in the absence of future increases in government funding, it was unlikely that the Brewery's grant would be reinstated in coming years.

Mr Mason, who stepped into the shoes of outgoing director Anne Pierson who spent 22 years at the helm, said: "This is a very significant cut for the Brewery.

It is an entire salary, every £100 pounds makes a difference."

However, he said he would press ahead with plans to encourage more community involvement even if the Brewery made a small loss at the end of the year.

"It is not case of 'give us the funding or we will shut'.

We will go ahead with our plans regardless but it would be better if we could do that with the support of SLDC rather than despite them."

In a letter to SLDC's Cabinet, Mr Mason said the arts centre, which employs on average 85 people per week, is considered to be one of the country's top five arts centres.

The venue is around 75 per cent self-funding and has an annual budget of £1.8 million with around £120,000 coming from North West Arts and £25,000 from Cumbria County Council.

In the past 12 months the centre, which incorporates a cinema complex and theatre along with a bar, restaurant and art and photographic studios, has ushered 300,000 visitors through its doors.

In a letter to SLDC Cabinet members, Mr Mason said planned developments could not take place "in an atmosphere of cost cutting and simple survival."

Coun Lancaster said this financial year the authority had been forced to cut its grants to all outside organisations as part of the drive to plug a £1.2 million council spending gap.

The Brewery was one of a number of organisations - such as Kendal's Abbot Hall and Welfare State International in Ulverston - to take a cut in grant.

He said: "Grants to outside organisations had to be balanced against cuts to SLDC's other responsibilities such as public toilets and village halls."

Coun Lancaster added the fact that the Brewery was claiming to be financially sound would hold some sway over SLDC's future grant decisions.

This week SLDC Cabinet members agreed to arrange a visit to the centre and extend the invitation to all 52 members.

Recreation portfolio holder Coun Andy Shine told Cabinet members: "I think it is time we as a council recognise just how important nationally this establishment is."

Plans already in the pipeline at the Brewery Arts Centre include:

l Community and out reach work to take the arts out to schools, community centres and village halls.

l Youth work to encourage local youth performance both at the venue and on regional tours.

l The creation of two new posts for an education and an outreach worker to build links with schools and colleges.

l A professional pantomime set to run over the Christmas period.