Jacksons Lane Arts Centre saved

By Caroline Ayre
The future of Jacksons Lane Art Centre did not look bright at the beginning of 2009. After 25 years, the leading arts and community centre in Archway Road, Highgate, was threatened with closure because the Arts Council was considering withdrawing the centre’s funding.
However, in a crunch meeting on 10 February, the Arts Council’s committee rejected the move and agreed to a further £135,712 over the next financial year.
Jacksons Lane chief executive Kate Sarley said: “I feel ecstatic. It’s like Christmas and Easter and Valentine’s Day all in one.”

Letter campaign
Lynne Featherstone, MP for Hornsey and Wood Green, and Liberal Democrat Councillor Rachel Allison joined forces to campaign for the Arts Council England and Haringey Council to come up with the funds needed to ensure the centre’s survival. They launched a letter writing campaign urging Haringey Council to give £50,000 to hire a fundraiser in order to satisfy the Arts Council that the centre had a future. Local residents took up the call to arms and flooded the council with letters.
On receiving the news, Councillor Allison said: “This is brilliant news, and we want to thank the hundreds of people who took the time to write in support of Jacksons Lane.”

Jacksons Lane now has two years to demonstrate it can deliver a fantastic arts programme for local people. For information on Jacksons Lane’s spring programme and events, visit www.jacksonslane.org.uk

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