Battersea Arts Centre received a £1m renovation grant from Chancellor George Osborne yesterday, to help with the repair work required after parts of the building were extensively damaged by fire.

Osborne said the government grant was about “restoring the centre to its former glory.”

“We are today making an additional £1 million contribution to help restore the centre to its former glory so that it can continue its great work in showcasing arts and culture to 100,000 people each year,” he said.

Earlier this month a large fire broke out in the Grade II-listed venue which destroyed most of the centre’s Grand Hall and the equipment store and offices. Renovation work on the centre was already under way when the fire broke out. 

A statement on the BAC’s website said that the centre’s Phoenix Fund has also received over £200,000 worth of donations from members of the public.

David Jubb, artistic director and chief executive of the BAC, said that the support from the public had been “overwhelming” and that all the money donated was being put to good use.

“Donations are being put to immediate use, to keep the building open, to set up temporary offices, to relocate shows and create a temporary Grand Hall.”

The National Funding Scheme - who helped set up the BAC's Donate fund - reportedly capped their fees to ensure most of the donations went to the centre. When asked by Civil Society News where the fees were capped, they declined to comment.