The future of the Borough of Haringey Arts Centre (BGAC) is looking up, despite recent challenges. In May, the charity faced a funding shortfall and had to pause some of its work, leading to concerns from tenants about rent increases as high as 42% last year.

But at a recent public meeting, interim director Sunita Pandya-Malik and chair Geoffrey Williams shared exciting plans for the center’s future. They announced the reopening of the centre’s cafe in December, aiming to provide a warm local space and offer free programming for holidays and festivals. The focus is on improving signposting to attract more people to the centre.

Sunita also highlighted the opportunity for BGAC to play a key role in the upcoming London Borough of Culture, hosted by Haringey Council next year. She hopes the centre can help sell tickets and host major events like the Tottenham Literature Festival and fashion shows.

While there is optimism about the future, financial pressures have led to some operations being scaled back. Geoffrey stressed the importance of generating revenue to fund charitable activities, finding a balance between making money and doing good work.

However, not everyone is on board with BGAC’s new direction. The Black Arts Production Theatre, which had to crowdfund due to increased rents last year, expressed concerns that the centre had shifted away from its community focus. They felt there was a lack of consultation and competition with commercial tenants for space.

Andrew Reid, co-founder of the theatre group, emphasized the need for more accessibility and a closer partnership between BGAC and community tenants like BAP. He suggested adding a community representative to the board, a proposal that Sunita agreed to explore through a “community advisory board” involving stakeholders from the program.

Sunita has committed to meeting with tenants in the coming weeks to better understand their needs and strengthen relationships. With new plans in motion, BGAC aims to reclaim its place as a vital part of Haringey’s cultural landscape.