Rother District Council support – update

In the light of the closure of DLWP due to the Covid-19 crisis, the De La Warr Pavilion Charitable Trust is extremely grateful for the emergency support agreed at the Rother District Council Cabinet meeting on Monday. This support will provide stability and a financial backstop that will  allow the Trust to rebuild its business in the coming months. The decision is still subject to approval by full Council on 6 July.

In line with nearly all similar cultural venues across the UK, DLWP has lost half its projected income for 2020/21, over £1.1m.  All our live events are going ahead, but many have been rescheduled into 2021 and there may be further reschedules coming up. We have been unable to trade for over three months and although a phased opening is planned this summer, it will take time to rebuild the business – the shop, Café Bar and venue hire –  to a point where it is viable again.

Because of the critical role that DLWP plays in supporting the cultural and tourism sectors and is a major catalyst for the economic growth of Rother, the additional funding package of support was agreed to be paid incrementally, based on need.

The Trust have taken full advantage of the government furlough scheme and have applied to Arts Council England for a full rescue package, as well as to other key and long-standing funders for support. It is hoped that this strategy, along with support from Rother District Council, will help stabilise the organisation and allow it to reopen in due course, when permitted.

The Trust were also starting initial discussions with national funders for a major capital project that was going to include repair to those areas of the building that are clearly at risk.  These discussions are now on hold and the Trust is now seeking to raise a further £100k to complete emergency works.

We would like to thank Rother District Council for their ongoing support.

 

Notes to Editors :

Music venues, theatres, galleries and museums throughout the UK are facing similar challenges and taking steps to secure financial support from their local authorities and Some, like the Nuffield Theatre Southampton have already gone into administration whilst others, like Shakespeare’s Globe, have gone directly to government with a plea for £5m to save it from imminent closure.

Posted by sally on Wednesday 10 June 2020