Southbank Centre awarded £16.5m ACE grant

Published Wednesday 7 May 2008 at 16:15 by Lalayn Baluch

London’s Southbank Centre has been given a £16.5 million funding package by Arts Council England to help complete its £111 million refurbishment programme.

The cash is an extension of the existing Lottery grant for the modernisation of the centre and will cover the final costs of the renovation of the Royal Festival Hall, as well as developing a new artistic programme.

Southbank Centre chief executive Michael Lynch said: “We are delighted that Arts Council England has extended its Lottery funding for Southbank Centre. They have been extremely supportive ever since the beginning of this project. This generous investment will enable us to reap the rewards of success and to continue to deliver a world-class, innovative and inspiring artistic programme.

“The award also acknowledges more broadly that, in recent years, the Southbank has become one of the world’s most important cultural quarters. With our iconic and accessible venues and our exciting artistic plans, we can make a major contribution to the cultural life of the nation as a whole.”

The venue’s reopening programme featured the 48-hour free Overture Weekend and a world-class Classical Season. The new season will include the UK premiere of Nono’s Prometeo, a summer production of The Wizard of Oz and Massive Attack’s Meltdown.