Battersea Arts Centre has said not having to pay rent for another decade will keep it ‘viable’. Wandsworth Council extended the rent-free period on its lease with the organisation on the iconic venue in Lavender Hill in recognition of the ‘ground-breaking work’ it does to support local communities, arts and culture.
Tarek Iskander, BAC’s artistic director and CEO, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) the rent-free period extension feels “like a birthday present” as the venue celebrates its 50th birthday this year. He said: “It basically makes it viable for us to continue as an arts centre, particularly at a time where arts funding and income is really constrained.”
BAC has been home to radical theatre since opening in Battersea Old Town Hall in 1974. Audiences are able to pay what they can for most performances at the centre, which committed to becoming the world’s first fully relaxed venue in 2020 by making all of its shows more accessible for disabled and neurodivergent people.
The venue has charitable status and partners with local organisations like charity Home-start who use its spaces for free, while it hosts major free community events – including Open Iftar and Barnes Children’s Literature Festival this year. It also runs youth programmes to further support local communities, including the young producers programme, beatbox academy and hip-hop dance academy.
Mr Iskander said: “The lease extension makes all of this possible because we have to do a huge amount of fundraising to make a place like BAC viable. It’s a really big, important part of making it continue. If we had to pay rent payments, I don’t think BAC would exist anymore.”
The council and BAC agreed a 125-year lease on the building in 2008. This started with a 10-year rent-free period, which was later extended for another 10 years until 2028. A new report by council officers said the lease required modernisation to reflect the current use of the building by BAC.
The authority’s finance committee approved changes to the lease to modernise it on February 27, including allowing it to expand the income-generating programmes it can run. The committee also authorised the council to continue offsetting BAC’s rent, now estimated at £72,000 a year, until 2035 in line with its commitment to Arts Council England in 2015 to make sure the building is used as a cultural venue up to this time.
Over £30million invested in renovation and upkeep of venue
Mr Iskander told the LDRS Wandsworth residents get “very good value for money” by the council offsetting BAC’s rent as the venue generates far more footfall and income than the cost of the subsidy. He said BAC funds the maintenance of the Grade II* listed building and makes sure it is accessible to everyone. Since 2008, BAC has invested more than £30million in the renovation and upkeep of the venue.
In a letter to the council, BAC wrote: “Since 1974, we have pioneered creative change. Based in an old town hall with a radical social history, we have transformed the lives of young people, kick-started creative careers, and helped communities connect through making and sharing art. An active voice in culture for diversity and anti-racism, led by people of colour at CEO and chair level. BAC’s mission and plan for the next ten years closely aligns with Wandsworth Council’s new arts and culture strategy to make Wandsworth a prosperous, healthy and attractive place to live.”
Following the decision, Labour council deputy leader Kemi Akinola said she is delighted to continue to offer “tangible and effective support” to BAC. She said: “BAC is not just Wandsworth’s but one of the UK’s leading cultural organisations, playing a vital role on the local, regional and national stage. It is celebrated both nationally and internationally for its pioneering approach and its residency in the borough offers Wandsworth residents a unique cultural resource, supporting both creative engagement and employment.
“Not only does it bring significant footfall to the borough, over a third of their audiences have always been very local, appreciating the ground-breaking and unique work it provides on their doorsteps. Most of their shows are offered as Pay What You Can, and with almost universal relaxed performances, making them more accessible to local underserved communities than any other London theatre.”
Mr Iskander urged people who have not been to BAC before to visit. He said: “It’s a beautiful building with an incredibly exciting programme and lots of things for young kids or for people to do.”
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