live_art_development_agency

LADA says its priority is now reopening its Bethnal Green premises

News

Live Art Development Agency re-enters National Portfolio

Arts Council England to reinstate regular funding after recognising “a significant process of organisational development in the past six months” at the charity.

Patrick Jowett
2 min read

London-based charity Live Art Development Agency (LADA) has announced it is re-joining Arts Council England’s (ACE) National Portfolio.

The organisation was initially offered regular funding as part of ACE’s 2023-26 National Portfolio, before being dropped last minute over concerns it was a “high-risk organisation”, leading to a public fallout between staff and trustees.

LADA then struck a six-month funding deal with ACE before sharing its intention to re-join the portfolio in September, after replacing its entire board.

READ MORE:

A statement released by LADA said re-joining the portfolio “is a result of the robust organisational work undertaken in the last few months”.

It added the current priority is welcoming the public back to its home in Bethnal Green’s Garrett Centre, ahead of recruiting a permanent director in early 2024.

An ACE spokesperson said LADA has undertaken “a significant process of organisational development in the last six months, which has put the company on a much firmer footing for the future”. 

“We are therefore delighted to confirm that we will be welcoming LADA back into our National Portfolio of regularly funded organisations,” the spokesperson said.

“We look forward to working with LADA into the future, helping the organisation champion the development, research and advocacy of Live Art.”

Interim Director Ria Righteous said she has worked closely with LADA’s previous board and directors, and its new board and staff, to secure the regular funding and is “delighted that we have succeeded in meeting our aim”.

“We now have strong intentions to continue this work by building on LADA’s legacy, presence and activity within the field of Live Art,” Righteous said.

“Over 2023-2024, I will be implementing changes within the organisation that align with my initiative ecologies of care, whereby new policies and procedures will be established to ensure best practice across the board.

“We will be releasing news over the next months about our current activities as well as new opportunities for artists to get involved.”