Theatre group appeals against eviction

The Bernie Grant Arts Centre says it has not increased BAP Theatre's rent for seven years

A north London theatre group is criticising an arts centre which is trying to evict it for being unable to pay a 42% rent increase.

Andrew Reid, co-founder of Black Arts Production Theatre (BAP Theatre), says the group rents studio space from Bernie Grant Arts Centre (BGAC) in Tottenham, where the rent increased in March from £420 to £600 a month.

Unable to pay this amount, he says the group is set to be evicted on Friday and has set up a petition to help gain support.

BGAC said the rent remained below market value and had not been increased for seven years.

Andrew Reid says BGAC is "meant to be for local people and employ local people"

BAP was founded in 1992, due to what it said was a lack of opportunity for black and ethnic minorities performing on TV and in theatre.

Mr Reid said the group had been involved with the arts centre "from the beginning", adding "the ethos of the centre is it’s meant to be for local people and employ local people".

“The centre is meant to be reducing crime rates and diverting people away from crime, and creating artists. One month’s notice, I don’t think, is adequate to ask for an extra £180.”

The group has enlisted the help of lawyer Pauline Campbell, who worked on the Justice4Windrush campaign.

In a statement, Ms Campbell said BAP had offered to pay £450 a month and paid this sum in April, but could not afford more.

'Considerably discounted rate'

Mr Reid said BGAC had already lost two businesses due to rent increases.

“They received Arts Council funding to give to outside organisations to come do things in the theatres, but with local people nothing is happening,” he said.

Azieb Pool, BGAC artistic director and chief executive, said the centre appreciated "how tough things are for black arts organisations in the current climate", adding that BGAC had offered discounted rates for other centre spaces and "have not increased our rents for over seven years".

"We are also severely affected by the changing arts sector and reluctantly have to raise the rents to ensure our own financial viability," she said.

“Market rates for studio spaces of similar sizes in the area are over £800, and with this in mind our rent... still represents a considerably discounted rate".

Follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to [e-mail]