From David Jubb, Artistic Director of the BAC:

On Friday 13th March there was a fire at Battersea Arts Centre that destroyed the Grand Hall and Lower Hall. Most importantly everyone is ok. And the organisation and the front half of the building live to fight another day. We start now.

As I cycled towards the building last night I thought about the millions of people who have shared and enjoyed the Grand Hall and Lower Hall over the last 120 years – as a public space – for everyone. These public spaces are reducing in number – which makes it all the more heartbreaking.

Today we start the next chapter. We want to get the shows back on and rebuild the building brick by brick. At the moment we have no offices, no Grand Hall theatre, and we have to re-establish a new financial model for the next 12 months. So your support - at whatever level - is so valuable. Thank you so much to everyone who has already donated and who has supported in other ways. And thank you to the National Funding Scheme for creating this campaign.

As you can imagine, everything is unfolding, hour by hour, and we will keep you updated on the front page of www.bac.org.uk when we have news or follow us on Twitter @battersea_arts @davidjubb. And if you can support in any other way please do email me atdavidj@bac.org.uk.