Government backs Southwark art space transformation

Area:

London

Programme:

Community Assets

Release date:

23 3 2009

A decaying listed building on the South West corner of Southwark Park is to be given a new lease of life after the Government backed plans today to refurbish, repair and remodel Dilston Grove.

A £529,426 grant from the Office of the Third Sector in the Cabinet Office’s Community Assets scheme will see the former Clare College church, which is on the English Heritage Buildings at Risk register, transformed into a fully accessible, fit-for-purpose building for art exhibitions and community use.

The grant comes from the Government’s Community Assets programme, funded by the Office of the Third Sector in the Cabinet Office and delivered by the Big Fund (BIG).

Once work is complete, ownership of the Grade II listed building will be transferred from Southwark Council to Bermondsey Artists’ Group on a 25-year lease at peppercorn rent, placing it firmly in the hands of the local community.

David Allen of Bermondsey Artists’ Group, said: “This funding will enable us to meet four of our key aspirations: To save this historically important building by transforming it into a valued community resource; to enable us to meet the oversubscribed demand for our community learning and partnership working initiatives; to maintain this unique beacon arts venue for use by forthcoming generations of artists; and to deepen our relationship with the local community.”

A new entrance, reception, toilet, meeting and education area will complement the main church area, which will be used for exhibitions, and public performances from community based theatre, dance and music groups.

Dilston Grove will become home for a number of local organisations, including Corali (a dance company that deals with people with learning disabilities), inIVA (a specialist arts organisation representing BME artists) and Autograph (an association of black photographers).  Local theatre, arts groups, community led organisations such as a parent and toddler group and BAG's own art DIY club will also benefit through education and outreach projects.

Kevin Brennan MP, Minister for the Third Sector, said: “The Government is investing £30 million across the country into excellent community projects such as Dilston Grove. Facilities such as these are much needed by voluntary and community groups, particularly during these challenging economic times when people are increasingly calling on community support.”

Debbie Pippard, BIG’s Head of London Region, said: “This project will make a real difference to the lives of people living in the local area. Providing quality spaces for local people to come together, learn, and enjoy activities is vital to ensure that the most isolated and disadvantaged get the support they need, right at the heart of the community.”

The partnership between Southwark Council and Bermondsey Artists’ Group (BAG) has been established since 1984 and BAG has been managing the building since 1999 as an important raw space for experimental art. This will continue with the council’s commitment to develop a strategy for the long-term use of Dilston Grove.

Further Information

Big Fund Press Office: 020 7211 1888
Out of hours contact: 07867 500 572
Public Enquiries Line: 08454 102030
Textphone: 0845 6021 659

Full details of the Big Lottery Fund programmes and grant awards are available on the website: www.biglotteryfund.org.uk

Notes to Editors

• Community Assets is a non-Lottery programme funded by the Office of the Third Sector in the Cabinet Office.
• The Big Fund is the non-Lottery funding operation of the Big Lottery Fund.
• The Big Lottery Fund (BIG) distributes lottery funding to health, education, environment and charitable causes across the UK. It also uses its expertise in grant-giving to distribute non-Lottery funding. BIG has been appointed to distributed around £30 million of Government funding through Community Assets
• The aim of Community Assets is community empowerment. It will do this by facilitating the transfer of genuine assets from local authorities to the third sector for the benefit of the community.  Community Assets will bring about the following outcomes:

1. Local third sector organisations have greater security and independence, and are better able to meet the needs of the communities they serve.
2. Communities have more access to better facilities that respond to their needs.
3. There is more effective partnership working between local authorities and the third sector.

• The range of activities to be offered by the recipients of Community Assets in principle grants includes:

1. Holiday play facilities and activities for parents and pre-school children
2. Facilities for young people providing alternative education services, evening coffee bar, leisure facilities, professional advice and guidance, anti-gun and knife crime events
3. GP referrals, healthy eating service, facilities offering keep fit classes, group wellbeing activities, a wheelchair service, therapy and rehabilitation services
4. Adult education, training courses, addiction assistance, ICT facilities and employment opportunities in deprived areas
5. Lunch clubs and tea dances for the elderly
6. Theatre events, rehearsal space, music facilities, venues for music events, creative arts groups and experimental art exhibitions
7. Meeting rooms, office services and facilities for smaller local groups including BME communities
8. Workshops, training rooms and support to local business start-ups
9. New tourism and leisure destinations

• The Office of the Third Sector was formed (OTS) in May 2006 in recognition of the increasingly important role the third sector plays in both society and the economy. It aims to drive forward the Government's role in supporting a thriving third sector, and join up sector-related work across government: http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/third_sector.
• From 30 March to 23 June 2007 the Office of the Third Sector ran a public consultation on how Community Assets will work.  A wide range of local authorities and third sector organisations responded to the consultation. The Office of the Third Sector summarised the responses and explained how they will influence the final programme on 10 August 2007.
• The Community Assets fund was first proposed last year in the Pre-Budget Report (6 December 2006).
• http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/communities/makingassetswork

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