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Frank

Covid-19 Update From Mansions of the Future

Dear Takeover space users,

Ever since opening, the Takeover Programme has been intrinsic to the ethos and vibrancy of Mansions of the Future, with over 70 groups making regular use of the space. In March 2020 the Takeover programme was suspended with immediate effect in response to health concerns surrounding COVID-19. Although the decision to suspend this offer was a difficult one, it was in line with government guidelines and was necessary for the safety of our community.

As many of you know, Mansions of the Future is a temporary 3 year Arts Council England's Ambitions for Excellence project funded by a one-off grant. We are currently in our final legacy year, and still need to hand the building back to the Co-op on the original agreed date of September 2020. We have been able to negotiate a project extension until December, but were not eligible for an uplift in funding. The MotF team will operate without a building from September - December 2020, using this time to honour our core commissions, deliver on outcomes with the artists written into our programme, capture impact and propose a strategy to cultural stakeholders for what should be next for Lincoln.

After a lot of deliberation - conversations around feasibility and community wellbeing we have come to the incredibly difficult decision to announce that we will not be able to reinstate the Takeover programme. For the team, it feels neither feasible nor responsible to encourage multiple community groups, many of whom work with vulnerable adults to gather in our space between now and September. This decision has been incredibly difficult and has only the continued health, safety and wellbeing of our community in mind.

We have missed the collaboration, energy and enthusiasm that you all bring to the building during the closure and acknowledge the impact that this decision will have on all of the groups and individuals involved.  

As a team we are intending to lobby to the city's cultural stakeholders that the demand for free space for community groups in Lincoln is huge and incredibility important beyond our tenure. If you would like us to share your information as a group looking for a free space in the future, please complete the attached form.

 If there is anything we can do in the mean time to support you and your group please do let us know.


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