Brighton Dome & Brighton Festival (BDBF) has joined the national #SaveOurTheatres crowdfunding campaign launched today by the Theatres Trust to help prevent the permanent closure of UK theatres. Some venues have gone into administration or have made staff redundant in attempts to survive a financial crisis.
Since March 2020, Brighton Dome is amongst hundreds of theatres and arts venues across the country currently closed for live events due to the coronavirus pandemic. Following Brighton Dome’s closure and the cancellation of Brighton Festival 2020, the organisation lost 67% of the income it self-generates through ticket sales and events.
“During our closure we have received overwhelming support from our audiences, members and Patrons,” said Andrew Comben, Brighton Dome & Brighton Festival’s Chief Executive. “As well as invaluable ongoing support from Brighton & Hove City Council and emergency funding from Arts Council England.”
The 1,800 capacity Concert Hall is only able to consider vastly reduced attendances of social distanced performances and the Corn Exchange and Studio Theatres are undergoing major refurbishment until autumn 2021.
With the continued uncertainty around when large-scale live events might return, the registered arts charity is asking the community to raise £25,000 for the #BringBackBrightonDome appeal which will help towards the additional £250,000 it needs to raise in the next year. Supporters can choose a range of ‘rewards’ for different levels of donations including art prints; ticket vouchers; signed posters and personal backstage tours.
Brighton Dome is the south coast’s leading multi-arts venue, situated at the cultural heart of one of England’s most creative cities. Along with Brighton Festival, it aims to champion the power of the arts, to enrich and change lives, and inspire and enable artists to be their most creative.
“Our extraordinary team of staff are committed to bringing back arts and culture to our venues,” added Comben. “We are ready to reignite the work of artists who are desperate to perform to audiences again. But we are going to need some extra help to make this happen.#2
Each year Brighton Dome & Brighton Festival presents over 600 events spanning music, theatre, dance, comedy, literature, spoken word, visual arts, film, digital and more as part of its year-round programme.
“Anyone who is able to donate to the #BringBackBrightonDome campaign will not only be supporting the city’s vital arts community but they will be doing their bit to help bring back live performance to one of its most treasured spaces.”
To support #BringBackBrightonDome visit: https://crowdfunder.co.uk/bringbackbrightondome