Arts centre announces plans after funding issues

The Bernie Grant Arts Centre paused some of its work in May due to a funding shortfall

A north London arts centre has set out its plans for the future, amid its continued financial struggles.

The Bernie Grant Arts Centre in Tottenham Green said in May it would have to pause some of its work due to a funding shortfall.

On 25 September, the centre unveiled its plans, including reopening its café from 1 December. It also said it would promote the centre as a destination for major events like the Brit Awards, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

However, there was backlash from some of the centre's tenants, who faced eviction after rents were increased by up to 42% last year.

The arts centre, which opened in 2007, boasts an auditorium, studio and café. It is named after Bernie Grant, one of Britain's first black MPs.

'The wrong emphasis'

The centre's interim director Sunita Pandya Malik said that the centre wanted to return to its "hyper-local focus".

She also proposed the centre as "the hub of the London Borough of Culture" in 2027, which will take place in Haringey, where the Bernie Grant Arts Centre is located.

The London Borough of Culture is a year-long programme of cultural events, which takes place in a different borough each year.

Ms Pandya-Malik also said she would "love the centre to be thought about as a destination for key London events such as London Fashion Week or the Brit Awards."

However, one of its tenants said the community was "upset" and felt the centre had "the wrong emphasis".

The Black Arts Production Theatre had to crowdfund to remain open after facing increased rents last year.

The theatre group's co-founder, Andrew Reid, felt tenants had been left out in the plan, and were being forced to compete with commercial tenants for theatre space.

Ms Pandya-Malik pledged to meet tenants in the coming weeks to discuss these concerns.