East End Review

Tag: Jane Earl

  • Save Rich Mix campaign beams messages of support on building

    Projection
    Photograph: Russell Parton

    Endangered arts centre Rich Mix last night beamed messages of support onto the front of its building to draw attention to its financial dispute with Tower Hamlets Council.

    The arts centre is at risk of closing down following council demands that it repay £850,000 in full, a sum given to Rich Mix in 2002 to help it refurbish its premises.

    Rich Mix claims it was never clear whether the sum was a one-off grant or a loan, and that it is not able to cough up the money in one lump sum without having to close.

    Nearly 12,000 people have signed a petition on change.org to help save Rich Mix, and with a High Court case looming, the arts centre last night projected messages of support received so far onto the front of its building.

    A small crowd of well wishers gathered to watch the projection and read statements designed to stir the passions such as: “As an artist I see this place as one of my homes,” and “Supporting the arts supports the entire community.”

    Employees Eileen and Anna were filming the projection. They stand to lose their jobs if Rich Mix closes. “The response has been amazing,” said Eileen, who has only recently moved to London but managed to make friends through her work.

    Rich Mix 2 620
    Photograph: Russell Parton

    The High Court case between Rich Mix and Tower Hamlets Council is set for 20 July, with Rich Mix CEO Jane Earl keen to reach a settlement beforehand.

    “We’d much rather that we settle the case rather than having to spend money on internal and external legal fees,” Earl said.

    Earl told the East End Review in January that Rich Mix has offered to repay the money in instalments. “What we mustn’t do is pay it in a way that will make us go bust,” Earl said.

    However, Earl alleges that Tower Hamlets Council is withholding £1.6 million owed to Rich Mix as part of the planning agreement for a nearby development.

    The agreement saw developer Telford Homes pay over £2 million towards cultural development in the immediate area.

    The council’s Strategic Development Committee decided in 2010 that this money would go to Rich Mix, but the contract drawn up to transfer the money was deemed “unenforceable” by a court due to a lack of firm targets.

  • Petition launched to stop Rich Mix from closing

    Rich Mix
    Rich Mix: at risk of closing

    Rich Mix is in danger of closing down and has launched an urgent petition for support.

    The petition, which gained more than 5,000 signatures in four days, urges Tower Hamlets Council not to proceed with legal action over the repayment of £850,000, given to Rich Mix in 2002 for the refurbishment of its premises at 35-47 Bethnal Green Road.

    If a court hearing, set for 20 July, finds in the council’s favour, Rich Mix could be forced to repay the money in one lump sum instead of in instalments, which according to its CEO Jane Earl has the potential to bankrupt the organisation and force it to close.

    Commenters on the website change.org, which is hosting the petition, have overwhelmingly voiced their support for Rich Mix.

    Londoner Michael Dollan said: “Rich Mix is a venue that encourages the appreciation and experience of a wide ranges of arts. Culture unites communities. It’s a no brainer, close it and step back in time to the days of heightened cultural division.”

    Artist Amie Taylor added: “The venue has supported me massively as an artist and enabled me to earn a living when no where else would. I’m sure many artists feel the same.”

    Earl hopes the petition will show Tower Hamlets Council that Rich Mix is more than a “fringe venue for minority interests”, and convince them to accept a settlement offer.

    “We’d much rather that we settle the case rather than having to spend money on internal and external legal fees,” she added.

    A spokesperson for Tower Hamlets Council, following an investigation by the East End Review last January into the situation, said: “The council considers that it would be inappropriate to comment on either ongoing litigation or associated settlement discussions. Irrespective of the litigation between the parties the council remains open to constructive discussions with Rich Mix over possible partnership funding.

    “During these difficult times for local government funding and taking into account the council’s statutory obligations, the council must ensure that any further funding is appropriate, affordable and delivers value for the borough.”

     

     

  • Exclusive: Rich Mix could go bust over Tower Hamlets Council ‘loan’

    Financial dispute: Rich Mix. Photograph: Rich Mix
    Financial dispute: Rich Mix. Photograph: Rich Mix

    Rich Mix is facing an uncertain future should it be forced to repay £850,000 to Tower Hamlets Council in one lump sum. The Shoreditch arts centre has decided to go public with the details of a legal dispute with the council dating back to 2011.

    The council is demanding repayment of £850,000 given to the arts organisation in 2002 to enable the organisation to complete the refurbishment of its premises at 35-47 Bethnal Green Road.

    Rich Mix claims it was never settled whether this money was a one-off grant or a loan that would have to be paid back. But in 2011, the council served legal papers demanding immediate repayment of the entire sum.

    It is not clear why the council has demanded all the money at once, but Rich Mix says it does not have sufficient financial reserves to pay the money and that the centre would find it difficult to continue to operate if it did.

    Rich Mix CEO, Jane Earl said that the arts centre disputes that the money needs to be paid back, though has offered to do so in instalments, adding: “What we mustn’t do is pay it in a way that will make us go bust.”

    She also claims that the council is withholding £1.6 million owed to Rich Mix as part of the planning agreement for a nearby development. Under this agreement, the developer, Telford Homes, paid over £2 million towards cultural development in the immediate area. The council’s Strategic Development Committee decided in 2010 that this money would go to Rich Mix.

    A formal contract was drawn up for the money to be transferred but contained no specific targets that Rich Mix would need to meet in order for the funds to be handed over. The contract was recently judged “unenforceable” by a court because of the lack of firm targets.

    Earl blames the contract’s poor drafting on the council, who rejected the idea of targets. She said: “In 2011 the council said it would be premature for us to set targets when we didn’t know what our level of Arts Council support would be.”

    Following the court judgement, Rich Mix has proposed a deal whereby the council would hand over the £1.6 million of development money and in return Rich Mix would pay the council the outstanding £850,000.

    Asked whether the council is using its power over funding to shut down Rich Mix, Earl declined to comment. She is, however, concerned that some councillors hold a negative view of its activities, including the “idea that it’s some kind of licentious drinking den”.

    A spokesperson for Tower Hamlets Council said: “The council considers that it would be inappropriate to comment on either ongoing litigation or associated settlement discussions. Irrespective of the litigation between the parties the council remains open to constructive discussions with Rich Mix over possible partnership funding.

    “During these difficult times for local government funding and taking into account the council’s statutory obligations, the council must ensure that any further funding is appropriate, affordable and delivers value for the borough.”