With your help, it can be here for another 50!
The Big Give March 2026 – Doubling Donations
We were pleased to have participated in this year’s Big Give’s Arts for Impact initiative, as part of our Fund Our Future campaign.
The seven-day online match funding campaign ran between midday 17th – midday 24th March 2026 to support arts and culture charities working to achieve societal impact across the UK.
We’re very grateful to all our supporters who made donations or spread the word to help us not only reach but exceed our target!
We had an opportunity to raise up to £6,000 which was doubled to £12,000, with further donations and Gift Aid taking us to a final total of around £15,000.
All of the funds raised will go towards enabling our amazing Learning, Participation and Community Engagement team to do the wonderful work they do to bring the benefits of the arts to all the community.
We’d also like to offer our sincere thanks to our pledge sponsors, the Reed Foundation and to the Big Give.
An Uncertain Future for the Arts
A recent government capital fund, launched via Arts Council England, was oversubscribed by an astonishing £620 million, reflecting the national picture. Our own bid, which would have allowed us to replace vital equipment such as our kilns, update lighting to LED and replace unreliable lifts was unfortunately unsuccessful.
South Hill Park has not benefited from a major capital investment since 2002, and therefore much of the equipment which enables us to operate and to deliver the high standards of creative output we are renowned for is now reaching end of life.
It costs £30,000 every week to keep South Hill Park running, even before any arts activity is programmed.
CREATIVE ARTS FOR EVERYONE
Run from our beautiful Grade II listed mansion, we have often been referred to as the “jewel in the crown of Bracknell Forest”. Each year here at South Hill Park we:
- Offer around 300 shows, films or events for our visitors to enjoy
- Facilitate 250+ courses and workshops to take part in and learn new skills
- Run our annual Community Engagement Programme, supporting a wide range of accessible, free or low-cost creative initiatives — we support over 6,700 people annually, with 2,479 participating for free.
- Nurture the next generation of talented artists and the future of the creative arts in our society.
Through our programming, we strive to provide high-quality, inclusive and relevant opportunities for all, by collaborating with individuals of all ages, local organisations and industry professionals.
Our mission is to ensure that there are no barriers to access so that everyone in the area, and particularly vulnerable members of our community, are able to enjoy the well documented benefits of the arts: enhanced health and wellbeing, reduced loneliness and isolation, cultural awareness and improved social cohesion.
Our New Fundraising Campaign
- £25,000 towards keeping the arts centre running
- £25,000 towards our Community Engagement Programme
- £25,000 towards capital investment.
You are South Hill Park
South Hill Park is a registered charity and it is only through the donations, grants and legacies of our members and supporters that we can maintain and build on the work we do here.
Please help us continue to inspire, connect and enrich through the creative arts.
Need Help?
Community permeates into everything we do here. If you’d like further information on anything mentioned above and can’t find it on our website, please use the link below to get in touch