A Brighton-based production company has secured a £215,000 grant for a new arts and heritage project.

Zap Art, based in Beaconsfield Villas, has become known for its flamboyant shows and has secured funding for a second project following on from last year’s successes at Newhaven Fort.

This project will culminate in two site-specific performance events with a script written by Sara Clifford and performed by more than 100 community performers.

The shows will be presented free of charge to the public on November 16 and 17 with outdoor projections on the Boots building and an indoor performance at Oceana Night Club in Brighton, and next March at the Winter Garden in Eastbourne.

Colin Matthews, chair of Zap Art said: “The fantastic support from the Arts Council England, the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Big Lottery Fund will enable us to engage audiences and participants across many art forms, ensuring that the rich history of the ballroom experience is preserved for this and future generations.”

The National Lottery through Arts Council England and the Heritage Lottery Fund have each donated £99,990, while £10,000 from the Big Lottery Fund, Award For All Scheme and a £5,000 Arts Partnership Award donation from Brighton and Hove City Council tops it up to £215,000.

Stuart McLeod, head of the Heritage Lottery Fund South East, said: “This engaging project will bring people together to explore the history of these two venues and their important connection with local communities through social dancing in the 1950s.”

Cate Canniffe, director in the South East of Arts Council England, said: “It will be exciting to see the results of this collaboration between such experienced artists, working with Zap Art, to create a multi art form production which audiences can experience through participation and creative learning opportunities as well as through watching the events.

“It will help to develop audience engagement in the arts and also bring communities closer to local history and heritage.”