The project aims to create a 21st century theatre in a 19th century town hall. Battersea’s former town hall is Grade II* listed by English Heritage and has been BAC’s home for over thirty years, the HLF award will enable BAC to celebrate the building’s and the organisation’s rich heritage: making it accessible to thousands more people every year.

Carole Souter, Chief Executive of Heritage Lottery Fund, said: "Battersea Old Town Hall has been the scene of memorable cultural and political activity for more than a century and sits at the heart of its local community. We loved BAC’s innovative conservation plans - which will preserve the spirit of the building and give it a modern twist into the bargain – and are delighted to be supporting them with an HLF grant of £2.5m."

HLF’s grant will finance a phased programme of works to conserve and protect the Victorian fabric of the building, creating a publicly accessible digital and physical archive of BAC’s history. The goal of the project is to embed the celebration of heritage into the everyday and stimulate audiences to take even greater ownership of the building.

The total amount sought is £13.3m and BAC has approximately £6m left to raise. The project has already received support from funders like the Big Lottery Fund and Arts Council. BAC launched a public campaign on 20 September and will host regular events in 2012/13.

Michael Day, Chair of BAC Board, said: "BAC's raison d'être is to innovate. I think its heritage project will mark out new ways for arts and heritage organisations to engage audiences with history."

Notes to editors

Housed in a Grade II* listed old town hall, BAC is a place where artists, audience, participants and staff can play a role in inventing the future of theatre.

Further information

For more information please contact Miranda Marcus at mirandam@bac.org.uk or 020 7326 8259.