Two thirds of Southbank Centre's staff facing redundancy due to COVID-19

17 July 2020, 15:46 | Written by Cerys Kenneally

(News)

The UK's largest arts complex, the Southbank Centre, has warned that two thirds of their total workforce are facing redundancy due to the coronavirus pandemic.

A spokesperson for Southbank Centre confirmed news of the job cuts after workers were told on Wednesday (15 July).

Up to 400 jobs across all areas of the complex could be affected by the coronavirus pandemic, including employees of Southbank Centre's Queen Elizabeth Hall, Hayward Gallery and Royal Festival Hall venues.

The Guardian reports the spokesperson said, "It is with great sadness that the Southbank Centre announced that up to 400 roles have been put at risk of redundancy as part of a comprehensive management action plan designed to stem the financial losses being incurred as a result of Covid-19, and to help safeguard the future of the UK’s largest arts centre."

London's Southbank Centre has been closed since 17 March, and said in a statement that the impact of closing the venue due to COVID-19 on its staff, performers and attendees is "immense".

The Guardian notes that since closing in March, the complex has furloughed the majority of its 600 staff, and warned in May that they could face a £5.1million defecit for the 2020-2021 financial year.

A 45-day consultation period is due to begin this week to work out which jobs will be affected.

News of Southbank Centre's job cuts arrive just a week after the UK government announced a $1.57billion support package for the arts industries, which seems to have not helped much at all.