The Drill Hall

12.00.00am GMT Wed 16th Jan 2008

On Sunday 13th January 2008, Simon accepted an invitation to go to meet the Chief Executive and Artistic Director, Julie Parker and General Manager, Mavis Seaman of The Drill Hall in Cheney Street in Central London. And then attend the pantomime version of Christmas Carol as a fundraising event for Stonewall. As a result of his meeting at the Drill Hall, Simon agreed to support their campaign for renewed funding for the coming 3 years from the Arts Council and has now made a formal representation to the Arts Council England in support of the Drill Hall.

On 15th January 2007 Simon also table a motion in the House of Commons (below). The Drill Hall has gained a strong reputation over the years and Simon believes they have a very strong case as an excellent local organisation to be publicly funded from money for the arts in London.

Related story: The London Bubble Theatre Company - http://www.simonhughes.org.uk/pages/londonbubble.html

ARTS COUNCIL FUNDING FOR THE DRILL HALL

That this House is concerned by the proposal from Arts Council England that their funding for the Drill Hall in London is ended completely from April 2008; believes that the Drill Hall has been a beacon for lesbian and gay performance work and arts activities of the highest quality for 30 years, is a unique national asset and provides a vital resource to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community as well as giving a voice to lesbian and gay arts in London and good value for the investment of public money; appreciates its programmes of work for schools and young people's organisations which in particular address homophobic bullying and sexuality issues; and calls on the regional council of Arts Council England not to proceed with the decision to withdraw funding and to decide to support the Drill Hall for the next three years.