Arts Council issues update on under-threat Square Chapel, Halifax
Square Chapel Arts Centre at Square Road in Halifax
The national arts organisation with a legal charge over an under-threat arts centre is looking to return it to community use, they have said.
Square Chapel Arts Centre at Square Road in Halifax town centre closed suddenly in February last year, following which a major campaign to get it open again is ongoing.
But in late spring His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) issued a winding-up order on the owners of Square Chapel Arts Centre, Square Chapel CIC (Community Interest Company).
The order forces the company to close down and go into voluntary liquidation.
Arts Council England (ACE) no longer has a funding relationship with Square Chapel CIC but it does maintain an interest in the building, due to a legal charge relating to a previous capital award made.
ACE has now given an update on the situation.
“The Arts Council has been working alongside local partners to try and secure the Square Chapel building as a space for cultural and community purposes.
“However, Square Chapel CIC was recently issued a winding-up order by the High Court, placing the building in the custody of the Official Receiver.
“In order to protect the Square Chapel building, we have now appointed our own Receiver to determine the next steps relating to the building, with a view to returning it to community cultural use.”
ACE says it will update with further information once its Receiver has determined next steps relating to the organisation’s charge on the building.
Square Chapel is not a council building but Calderdale Council has been involved in lobbying over the centre’s future, a position it is maintaining, and Halifax MP Kate Deaden has also lobbied for centre to be re-opened.
Since the closure last year major lobbying by the Save Square Chapel Campaign group to get it re-opened and in use again has kept the issue very much in the public eye.
The group has reacted to ACE’s statement by saying: “Things are one the right track at last.”