**Petition to save our Netherton Arts Centre**

🆕 Petition Update: August 2025

Victory for Heritage — But the Fight Isn’t Over

Thanks to your support and tireless community advocacy, the Netherton Arts Centre has officially been granted Grade II-listed status 🎉. This is a huge win for local heritage and a testament to its cultural significance.

🏛️ How This Happened:
This recognition is the direct result of work led by Stourbridge MP Cat Eccles, in partnership with Historic England and the Theatres at Risk Register. Their efforts have ensured that the Arts Centre is formally protected for its architectural and historic value.

🚨 But Here’s the Reality:
Despite this listing, Dudley Council still plans to sell the Arts Centre to private investors — without public consultation or consideration of community-led alternatives.

📢 Our Updated Demands:
We call on Dudley Council to:
1. Immediately halt the sale process.
2. Engage in transparent consultation with residents, artists, educators, and community leaders.
3. Explore restoration funding options, including grants and partnerships, to bring the Arts Centre back to life as a public space.

💬 Why It Matters:
This isn’t just about preserving bricks and mortar — it’s about protecting a space where generations have gathered, performed, and grown. Selling it off erases that legacy and denies future generations the chance to create their own.

✊ What You Can Do:
• Keep sharing the petition.
• ⁠Share your memories of NAC.
• Tag your councillors and MPs.
• Use #SaveNethertonArtsCentre and #NethertonHeritage to amplify the message.

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Netherton Arts Centre, a magnificent Victorian building rich in local heritage, is a cornerstone of our community. Yet, the Conservative-led Council intends to sell this cherished asset to private investors, part of a concerning trend of offloading valuable community resources.

Historically, the Council has neglected necessary repairs, claiming these buildings are no longer viable. We will not allow Netherton Arts Centre to become another victim of this destructive pattern.

Originally known as the Netherton Institute, this distinguished, locally-listed Victorian public hall was inaugurated by the Countess of Dudley on July 5, 1883. From 1910 to 1939, it served as a cinema before reopening post-World War II as Netherton Arts Centre, hosting an array of professional and amateur performances, notably the Midland Theatre Company’s repertory season.

Following the Midland Theatre Company's disbandment in 1955, the Centre became a hub for amateur groups, including Dudley Little Theatre, which performed during its civic opening on October 20, 1947. Until 2021, it remained a vibrant venue for community and amateur theatre.

We urgently need your support to safeguard this vital piece of Netherton’s heritage. Our goal is to compel the Council to restore the Arts Centre to its former glory, ensuring it remains a community space rather than a profit-driven enterprise.

Please sign our petition to protect Netherton Arts Centre for the benefit of all local residents.

Cllr Qasim Mughal, Cllr Shaneila Mughal, Cllr Elaine Taylor, Cat Eccles MP