£16.5 million cash boost for Royal Festival Hall refurbishment

Arts Council England says that the funds – an extension of the existing Lottery grant for the major refurbishment of the Royal Festival Hall – are to cover final costs of the renovation of the concert hall and to build on the new artistic programme.

In December Southbank Centre announced it had concluded its fundraising efforts for the RFH refurbishment having raised £111 million.

"The re-opening of the Royal Festival Hall, and the launch of a new programme of produced as well as received work, has revitalised Southbank Centre and firmly established its position as a key arts venue in the capital," says the Arts Council's Moira Sinclair.

"This additional money will provide Southbank Centre with a firm footing for their ambitious plans for the future. We will be working closely with them to ensure that financial targets are reached and artistic ambitions realised, including through the regularly funded organisations resident at Southbank.

"We want the centre to continue to play a major role in the regeneration of the South Bank as a key cultural and leisure destination."

Michael Lynch, chief executive of Southbank Centre, said: "We are delighted that Arts Council England has extended its Lottery funding for Southbank Centre. They have been extremely supportive ever since the beginning of this project. This generous investment will enable us to reap the rewards of success and to continue to deliver a world-class, innovative and inspiring artistic programme.

"The award also acknowledges more broadly that, in recent years, the South Bank has become one of the world's most important cultural quarters. With our iconic and accessible venues and our exciting artistic plans, we can make a major contribution to the cultural life of the nation as a whole."