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Dateline: 17th January, 2007
BAC Under Threat BAC (formerly known as the Battersea Arts Centre) is under threat of closure. A statement from Richard Dufty, Senior Producer, says, "Wandsworth Borough Council have told us that they wish to remove all of the funding that they currently give to BAC - £100,000. They also want us to pay a commercial rent on the building we are in - £150,000. They also want us to pay for the repair and maintenance of the building - £120,000. This means a combined financial hit of £370,000. If this stands then it would be nigh on impossible for BAC to survive. The cuts would come into effect in April this year. The process of the council ratifying this decision begins in just a few weeks - 6th February." BAC is one of the most well known and adventurous of London's fringe theatres. It was there that Jerry Spring the Opera was developed and there a number of Britain's most influential directors, such as Ian Rickson and Thea Sharrock, began their careers. There, too, a large number of what are now major companies developed work, including Kneehigh, Cheek by Jowl, Frantic Assembly and Complicité. Wandsworth has the lowest council tax in Britain and its grant to the centre amounts to 38p per person per annum, and the centre estimates that its visitors contribute around £2m annually to the local economy. The council claims that their expenses have increased by £8m and they have a shortfall of £5m and so must save money to avoid cuts in essential services. However the local MP, Martin Linton, claims that the council has huge reserves and is in no danger of being capped. Please note that all three Archive indices are very long and will therefore take some time to download.
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