An image of the Battersea Arts Centre foyer. An alcove entrance over a grand rainbow stair case. To either side, there are plants hanging from the ceiling and gathered in pots on the floor. A yellow and pink sign saying 'HOPE' can be seen at the top of the steps.

WANDSWORTH'S COMMUNITY VACCINATION CENTRE

Today we announce a partnership with the NHS as we become the community Covid-19 Vaccination Centre for Wandsworth.

As of 8 March 2021, people across the borough will be welcomed into our building where they will receive their vaccine, administered by trained NHS staff. Residents will be contacted by their local healthcare provider and asked to book an appointment.

We are thrilled to be the only arts venue in South London to be hosting vaccinations on this large a scale, as we continue our building’s rich history of supporting our community in times of need. Vaccinations will be administered by NHS staff in a clinical and contained area while theatre artists and community groups can carry on working in other parts of the building. As part of this initiative to continue work with artists during this period, we are also commissioning visual, digital and interactive installations to inspire hope, curiosity and encourage visitors to come together to imagine a more hopeful future.

Artists making creative contributions include poet and playwright Inua Ellams, activists and performance artists Scottee & Friends, comedian Rosie Jones, Brazilian student collective coletivA ocupação, learning disabled theatre company Access All Areas, artist activist the vacuum cleaner, artist Richard DeDomenici, artist and gardener Jo Fong with contributing artist Sonia Hughes, experimental performance duo She Goat, performance makers Bert & Nasi, visual artist Dan Tombs, with a welcoming installation in our foyer by production designer Rajha Shakiry.

 

“Throughout its radical history our Town Hall building has always been a potent example of hope and refuge at times of crises. The next few months will be no different. Everyone at Battersea Arts Centre is delighted to be collaborating with the NHS, Wandsworth Council and our brilliant local partners to be part of the response to these impossibly difficult times.

As well as supporting our collective public health efforts, we will continue to commission remarkable new creative projects from professional artists, young people and our communities. It’s these shared collective experiences that make our lives worth fighting for. Battersea’s old motto is ‘Not for Me, Not for You, But for Us’. That’s been our guiding principle throughout this pandemic, and feels as relevant now as it did in 1893 when the Town Hall first opened. Hopefully a better future for all of us is just round the corner, and by working together we can achieve that goal.”

Tarek Iskander, Artistic Director & CEO