“Dark times” for arts industry as 32 staff members at Croydon’s Fairfield Halls lose jobs

By Tara O’Connor, Local Democracy Reporter

The devastating impact of the coronavirus pandemic means that 32 members of staff at Croydon’s Fairfield Halls will lose their jobs.

Last month it was announced that the Park Lane venue, which has been closed since March, will go ‘into hibernation’ until 2021.

It was only able to reopen for six months after a three-year closure for a £42 million revamp.

This was funded by Croydon council and unveiled in September 2019.

Chief executive of BH Live, Chris Symons, said that due to the coronavirus pandemic the venue had been unable to make enough money to cover costs.

He said: “Because of the furlough scheme we have been able to support as many employees as possible, for as long as possible

“However as the scheme is changing, and we are not able to fully return to trading at this time, job losses will be an unfortunate and regrettable reality of this pandemic.

“We have now concluded a period of consultation at Fairfield Halls in a bid to minimise the impact on employees, but regrettably 32 roles have been affected.

“I’m truly saddened that we have been forced into taking this unavoidable action. But by making these changes now, we can secure the future of the venue and BH Live, and support our recovery.

“I am confident we can continue to re-establish Fairfield Halls as Croydon’s cultural hub in 2021, leading to the Borough of Culture celebrations in 2023.”

Fairfield Halls is owned by the council but managed and run by contractor BH Live.

Croydon council leader Tony Newman described the redundancies as sad but unavoidable.

He said: “It is awful but under the current circumstances it was probably unavoidable.

“I think it is sad for Croydon and nationally coronavirus is a tragedy for arts and culture.

“Our absolute commitment is at the earliest opportunity we will be looking to get Fairfield Halls open.”

The financial hardship faced meant that Fairfield Halls also had to end a contract with Phoenix Pianos which provided eight pianos worth more than £500,000 to the venue.

The Sevenoaks-based company had provided a concert grand piano for the main hall, along with a series of upright pianos for around the venue.

A statement on the Phoenix Pianos Facebook page in June said: “We had such high hopes for our relationship with this legendary venue, and looked forward to being able to share our innovative instruments with musicians and the public for years to come, but today that dream comes to an end as we remove all eight pianos from Fairfield.

“These are dark times for the arts industry and closer to home for us, for the piano industry.”

Pictured top: Fairfield Halls