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The next chapter of performance - a perfect gift

Battersea Arts Centre set in a snowy scene, and covered in Christmas lights.

A Gift Membership is the perfect choice for anyone who loves live performance and wants some excitement to look forward to in 2021.

Good Friends strengthen our capacity to deliver creativity, hope and support to those who need it, and have been critical to our response to the pandemic.

As part of our community, they also:

receive priority booking - taking you to the front of the queue and whisking you back to a live performance as quickly as possible
save money with discounts on tickets and at the bar
are a part of every project we do
access exclusive digital offers and behind the scenes updates via email
are invited to special events (digital and in person)
are exempt from ticket exchange and postage fees

Plus! Order your gift before the 7th December and you can share a message of love from us for free. Share your message and we''ll project your words on the walls of our beautiful Grand Hall and send as a gift photograph to your special someone just in time for Christmas.

If you're looking for a special present for your nearest and dearest, this is it.

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Battersea Arts Centre Lavender Hill, London, SW11 5TN

020 7223 2223 | boxoffice@bac.org.uk

Charity No. 282857 Company No. 15691 15

Here''s what we''ve been up to

Our doors may be closed at the moment, but there is still plenty going on.

From supporting our local community to cooking up creative projects online, read on to find out what we''ve been up to and how you can get involved.

We''re supporting local children

LEFT: 4 volunteers organise bright sheets of paper. RIGHT: piles of cream tote bags with the text, Create & Learn Playkits.

With schools shut until September, we are determined to support local children.

We have teamed up with Wandsworth Council and other brilliant organisations to deliver creative play kits to 6-10 year olds. Our Grand Hall has reopened as an emergency hub to produce the kits, which will help with wellbeing and learning.

We are over halfway to our initial goal of sending 1000 kits in June. But demand is huge and there are many children who still need support. As each kit costs ?10, we can''t do it alone.

Could you help #GiftAKit to a child?

Going Global has Gone Digital

The words GOING DIGITAL against a blue and red background.

Our spring 2020 Going Global season has gone digital!

Head to our YouTube channel to experience shows reimagined for online - some are full performances, some snapshots or new creations. Set a reminder to tune into Javaad Alipoor''s Rich Kids: A History of Shopping Malls in Tehran, streaming live next week.

A mobile phone with a woman''s face visible. Text: Rich Kids: A History Of Shopping Malls in Tehran

Javaad Alipoor & Kirsty Housley

Streaming live on YouTube, this dizzying play about entitlement and digital technology has never felt so relevant. Tune in next Mon-Wed at 7:30pm.

A blonde woman wearing a blue crop top & sunglasses (Lucy McCormick). Text: Life: LIVE!

Lucy McCormick

Immerse yourself in an eclectic pop concert spectacular with an exclusive snapshot of Lucy''s debut performance of Life: LIVE! With songs from her album of original music.

A close up of a woman''s face, with lipstick around as well as on her lips. Text: Swimming Pools: Home Movie

Sleepwalk Collective

A chaotic attempt to recover a sense of intimacy through technology, from the award-winning creators of Amusements, Karaoke and Kourtney Kardashian.

A figure clutches his head in his hands. Blue paint is visible on his fingers. Text: The Spirit

Thibault Delferiere

A mesmerising and visceral trilogy of performances, captured just days before lockdown. We''re pretty confident you won''t have seen anything like it.

Want More?

Watch our film, The Way Out, on BBC iPlayer for a whirl around our building while our doors are closed. While you''re there, check out the full Performance Live series feat. Kate Tempest, Hofesh Schechter, Touretteshero and more - available until 6 July.

We are also supporting artists to produce 7 new #CultureinQuarantine commissions for the BBC. Watch this space...

We''ve been getting creative

Close up of a boy''s face. He is holding his hand to his mouth, beatboxing.

Learn to Beatbox

Have you seen our BAC Beatbox Academy''s #BeatboxAtHome series? It''s easy to follow and great for all ages. We recommend heading over to our YouTube channel to watch the full course. You''ll have the Boom, the Tee and the Cla down in no time.

A cardboard box with art supplies unpacked, around it.

Take a Creative Challenge

Everyone has the ability to be creative. In more usual times, The Create Course is a free weekly meet-up for anyone who wants to explore their own creativity. Try our digital version, with challenges like growing your own micro-greens & creating postcards for friends.

We''re celebrating Pride month with a new rainbow crossing

If you''re in the area, try out the new rainbow crossing outside the front of our building. The first in Wandsworth, it symbolises diversity in support of our local LGBTQ+ community.

A rainbow road crossing leads to a large Victorian building. A sign ''Battersea Arts Centre'' is visible.

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Battersea Arts Centre Lavender Hill, London, SW11 5TN

020 7223 2223 | boxoffice@bac.org.uk

Charity No. 282857 Company No. 15691 15

A bit of news from Battersea

An empty Grand Hall with Duty Manager Maureen Martin sat on a chair

"Seeing Battersea Arts Centre closed left a great hole in my heart but I always remember our motto NOT FOR ME, NOT FOR YOU, BUT FOR US."

Maureen "Mo" Martin, Duty Manager

Can you spot our wonderful Duty Manager, Maureen "Mo" Martin in the image above?

Our Artistic Director Tarek Iskander describes Maureen as "the kindly soul of our magical building", and pandemic or not, theatres are nothing without the support of our dedicated welcome team.

Photographed by Joanna Vestey, we are thrilled to be a part of the Custodians for Covid project which celebrates people like Mo who do so much in theatres across London, to give audiences and artists a royal welcome. Read about the series in the Guardian, the Evening Standard and What's On Stage.

Each image is available as a limited-edition print, with all proceeds going to the theatres involved as a much appreciated donation.

A group of smiling children sit on some steps and hold up cream tote bags

7 days left to contribute to our Playkits crowdfunder!

We''ve hit our first target of ?10,000 - enabling us to send creative PlayKits to 1000 families across Wandsworth.

Thank you so much for your support if you''ve already donated. They really are making a big difference to the children who have recieved them so far. You can download the activities included in the kit for free here.

With the countdown on, we want to help as many families as we can and have set ourselves a new stretch target.

Every additional ?10 means a new kit for a London child - could you help #GiftAKit to a child?

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Battersea Arts Centre Lavender Hill, London, SW11 5TN

020 7223 2223 | boxoffice@bac.org.uk

Charity No. 282857 Company No. 15691 15

There''s less than 48 hours left to donate a PlayKit to a local Family - help us get to 2000!

With the amazing support of our brilliant community and volunteers, we have been able to fund and create 1,517 playkits for families local to BAC so far.

With time running out, we would love to make 483 more kits for those families that need them, but we need your support to do this.

Every additional ?10 means a new kit for a London child - could you #GiftAKit?

New Comedy in the Courtyard Headliner announced:

AL MURRAY

Fri 7 Aug | 7.30pm | Tickets ?20

Join Al Murray ''The Pub Landlord'' and guests for a night of work-in-progress stand-up. For over 20 years Al has filled arenas around the world, won numerous awards and accolades and has graced our screens with Al Murray's Happy Hour, Time Gentlemen Please,The Royal Variety Performance, Stand Up Central on Comedy Central, Live at the Apollo and Live at the Palladium.

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Battersea Arts Centre Lavender Hill, London, SW11 5TN

020 7223 2223 | boxoffice@bac.org.uk

Charity No. 282857 Company No. 15691 15

Last orders today! Send a message of love this Christmas

We''re offering the option for you to declare your love to a special someone in our historic Grand Hall.

For ?15 + you will receive a personal printed photo of your message projected onto the walls of our Grand Hall. We''ll send this to you, to present to your loved one just in time for Christmas. Or get one free when you purchase a Gift Membership. But hurry - last orders are 3pm today.

View email online | Unsubscribe

Battersea Arts Centre Lavender Hill, London, SW11 5TN

020 7223 2223 | boxoffice@bac.org.uk

Charity No. 282857 Company No. 15691 15

A woman with platinum blone hair in a blue jumper looks directly into the camera, against a yellow background

Dear Lucas,

We're proud to be supporting #GigAid, an artist-led initiative started by Bryony Kimmings and Brian Lobel that is supporting artists in need because of cancelled gigs. We''re hoping you can help.

#GigAid offers support to artists who have lost their income because of the coronovirus crisis. In March #Gigaid raised and gave over ?30k of support to artists. Although there are a number of initiatives and opportunities available, there are still people who fall outside these schemes who need our help.

If you are able and willing to support artists and have ?100 (or more) to give, please get in touch with your details at gigaid@bryonykimmings.com, and #GigAid will pair you with someone in need.

We need broader systemic change. We need better support for artists and precarious workers. We need the government to honour the tremendous contribution that culture and the arts (and those who work in these fields) make to the UK. Until then, #GigAid wants to help how it can, and provide that help now.

Please contact #GigAid by Fri 24 Apr if you''re able to help.

Photo of Bryony Kimmings by Richard Davenport

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Battersea Arts Centre Lavender Hill, London, SW11 5TN

020 7223 2223 | boxoffice@bac.org.uk

Charity No. 282857 Company No. 15691 15

Help us make magic happen

A large group of people in a large hall with a lattice wood ceiling

Dear Lucas

Along with other theatres and arts centres, Battersea Arts Centre faces challenges ahead. However, we also know there is urgent need in our communities right now. As much as we need support, we are trying to give back as best we can.

Although our doors are closed, we continue to support those who rely on us - our artists, young people and local residents. Our Going Global season has gone digital, allowing artists whose shows were cancelled to share work with audiences; we are supporting 7 new BBC Culture in Quarantine commissions; and our programmes for young people are running online.

We have just launched a crowd funder to support children local to BAC. We are hoping you can help. With the news that most schools will be closed until September, it feels more important than ever to do our part for them. There is info on how to support below.

Take care and we hope to welcome you back into the building before too long.

Tarek Iskander
Artistic Director, Battersea Arts Centre

Buy a creative PlayKit for a local child

LEFT: People wearing PPE organise bright craft materials. RIGHT: a tote bag and activity pack.

Being creative can feel like magic. Help a child make magic happen in their own home, during the pandemic.

Together with Wandsworth Council and other brilliant organisations, we have turned our Grand Hall into a hub to produce creative PlayKits for local children.

Full of materials and activities, these kits will bring creativity into family homes to support the wellbeing and learning of 6-10 year-olds. We believe this is something that all children should have access to, regardless of economic circumstances.

There has already been huge demand for the kits, and we are working with local schools to distribute them. We want to send 3000 to families in June, July and August. As each kit costs ?10 to put together, this is only possible with your support.

If you are able to help, please click through for more information.

View email online | Unsubscribe

Battersea Arts Centre Lavender Hill, London, SW11 5TN

020 7223 2223 | boxoffice@bac.org.uk

Charity No. 282857 Company No. 15691 15

Looking Back and Looking Forward

What a year 2020 has been. But we''ve been inspired by the support and generosity of so many, who have helped keep our programmes running and worked with us to provide opportunities for creativity under difficult and changing circumstances. Take a look back with us on some of the highlights of 2020.

We launched as a Relaxed Venue

Back in February, we held a celebratory bash to mark the launch of Battersea Arts Centre as a Relaxed Venue. Working with brilliant disabled-led company Touretteshero, we committed to removing barriers that disable people, to become a more welcoming and inclusive place for all.

We brought our building to your screens

In April, our BBC Performance Live film The Way Out brought Battersea Arts Centre to you. Filmed in one continuous shot, this theatrical adventure through our building features breathtaking performances from Lucy McCormick, Le Gateau Chocolat, The Cocoa Butter Club and Caleb Femi to name a few.

Our shows went digital

Thanks to the brilliant artists who took a creative risk with us, our Spring 2020 Going Global season went digital with shows reimagined for online viewing. Audiences tuned into live-streams of Javaad Alipoor''s Rich Kids: A History Of Shopping Malls in Tehran and enjoyed quiet reflection with Jo Fong & Sonia Hughes.

Our Beatbox Academy had their biggest year yet

Kicking off 2020 performing their smash-hit show Frankenstein: How to Make a Monster on the other side of the globe, our BAC Beatbox Academy didn''t let their shorter-than-planned run in Adelaide keep them down for long.

Back in the UK, they taught the nation to Beatbox, before launching Frankenstein reimagined for the screen on BBC Four. Part gig theatre, part documentary, it tracks their journey, from after school workshops to selling out shows across the world.

We brought creativity to the children of Wandsworth

Over the summer, we teamed up with local organisations, to create and deliver over 3000 Create & Learn Playkits to local families while schools were closed.

Thanks to generous donations, we continued the scheme this December, sending out 2600 festive Playkits to bring joy to children over the Christmas period.

We welcomed back audiences for live performances

In the summer, we were one of the few venues to re-open, hosting some of the biggest names in comedy for socially distanced performances, headlined by Russell Howard, Paul Chowdhry and Lou Sanders and more.

Philharmonia Orchestra also took up residency with us, streaming live concerts direct from our beautiful Grand Hall.

We shared the love

In autumn, we launched a daring programme of digital performance to bring people together, while apart. We also teamed up with our community to tackle food waste, reflect on Black Lives Matter and open up conversations on illness and intimacy.

Thank you for your support

We''ve been overwhelmed by the love we have received in 2020. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram as we give thanks to everyone who has supported us this year.

To all the audiences, artists and communities who have stood by us, we look forward to seeing you in 2021!