Theatre-goers are being asked to dig deep to raise £10,000 to help pay for new artists’ studios at The Pound arts centre in Corsham.

The popular centre, at Pound Pill, has already raised £145,000 to construct three studio spaces for emerging artists and a community workshop space where children and families can take part in arts and crafts activities.

People who buy tickets for shows at The Pound from January will be asked if they want to make a £1 voluntary donation to the project. For every £1 the centre receives, 28 pence in Gift Aid can be claimed from the Government.

A further £35,000 would need to be raised from grants and business sponsorship.

Box office assistant Lucy Moore said: “If everyone agreed to make a donation when buying their tickets for our shows between January and April, we would raise up to £2,500 from ticket sales alone.”

The profits from the sales of the two Christmas cards designed by local artist Susie Brooks will also be donated to the appeal. They can be purchased from The Pound and the Goldfish Bowl Gallery, High Street.

Stephanie Szakalo, trustee and owner of the Goldfish Bowl Gallery, said: “I think this plan is fantastic because The Pound is well known for its performing arts but it will help to reinforce its commitment to visual arts.

“We have done so well to raise so much money but now we are in need of that final push so we can make it a reality.

“The studios will be good for young, emerging artists.”

The studios will be located in the old block to the left of the main building, where ceramicist Claire Baker’s workshop is currently located.

It is anticipated that the studios could be up and running as early as next autumn.

The changes, when they happen, will be the biggest since The Pound’s inception in 2005 when the former school building was given a £1.2m makeover.