CHARTERED accountants firm Ensors has celebrated its second year of sponsorship of the Bury St Edmunds Theatre Royal's annual rural tour. This year's tour, the theatre's 10th in all, comes to a close this week and Graham Page, office partner at Ensors in Bury (pictured with the three principal actors in the travelling performance of the comedy Art), says the association is of significant benefit to both parties.

CHARTERED accountants firm Ensors has celebrated its second year of sponsorship of the Bury St Edmunds Theatre Royal's annual rural tour.

This year's tour, the theatre's 10th in all, comes to a close this week and Graham Page, office partner at Ensors in Bury (pictured with the three principal actors in the travelling performance of the comedy Art), says the association is of significant benefit to both parties.

“The tour very much fits with Ensors because as an old established accountancy practice we've got many clients in the rural communities, particularly out of the Bury St Edmunds office,” explained Mr Page.

“We see sponsorship as something on-going that helps the likes of the Theatre Royal here and gives us the brand promotion in the communities that we want to reach.”

Ensors is no stranger to sponsorship of the arts. The Ipswich office has sponsored the Eastern Angles Christmas show in the east of the county for the past eight years, and it is also involved in supporting Dance East and the Aldeburgh Festival as well as various concerts across the region.

Where possible, the firm prefers to develop long-term relationships with sponsorship partners which, according to Mr Page, generally prove more fruitful for everyone. So when the Theatre Royal approached Ensors two years ago to sponsor a brick in the revamped theatre building, Ensors said it would like to forge an on-going relationship.

“We're into our second year now and it's going very well,” said Mr Page.

He adds, laughing: “We've had a number of clients thank us personally for putting on these events as though it is us doing it!”

Ensors is proud to be counted among businesses which support the arts. Private investment in the UK cultural sector last year was just under £600 million, up 10% on 2006, said Mr Page.

“In itself, this is good growth, although it is disappointing that 75% of that investment was from only 50 organisations within the private sector.

“I suspect, however, with current economic conditions that unfortunately the arts will start to suffer. But if businesses do decide to do it, I think they've got to see it not only as for the benefit of the organisation that is providing funds but as a relationship going forward. If it's done in the right way, everybody can benefit and it is well worth the investment.”

n The Theatre Royal is on tour with the award-winning comedy Art until May 31.