Watermans ‘Saved’ By Public Generosity

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Response to its appeal sufficient to keep it operating through next year

The recently launched appeal by the Watermans Arts Centre in Brentford has now topped six figures.

A grand total of well over £100,000 has been reached including donations to its crowdfunding page, estimated gift aid and offline donations given directly.

It is believed that this will be sufficient to keep the centre operating through 2021 despite the loss of revenue due to Covid-19.

Jan Lennox, Director of Watermans said, “Wow! What an incredible result. Our community has got behind us in a way that has humbled and inspired us. There is really only one message for you today: you have saved Watermans. We will weather 2021. The conversation when our trustees meet in January will be a very different one. Thank you.

“We are so grateful to have been the recipients of true goodwill from our community and all of us here thank every single one of you who supported us - donating and sharing our appeal. For those who have become friends and patrons, our team will be in touch over the next couple of weeks. “

The centre remains closed until further notice due to Tier 4 restrictions.

The #SaveWatermans Emergency Appeal was the venue’s first ever large-scale crowdfunding campaign. Along with every arts venue in the country, it has suffered a body blow in this pandemic with the situation before the launch described by staff as ‘pretty dire’.

Watermans has introduced generations of local children from all backgrounds to the joy of coming to the theatre. It’s provided a home for dance, cabaret, live music and performance in West London. It’s given thousands of young people their first taste of performing to a live audience, helped develop the careers of many young artists and inspired young people to pursue a career in the creative industries. They employ technicians, lighting designers, and front of house staff to do all this and the generosity of the public has enabled them to continue doing so.

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December 27, 2020