QUAD launches fundraising campaign ahead of 15th birthday

QUAD, which this year celebrates its 15th anniversary, has launched a campaign to raise funds to make improvements to its building.

Since it first opened, the Market Place venue has been making art, film and digital media accessible to all, delivering a contemporary programme, as well as working within educational settings and with non-traditional audiences.

These creative opportunities have helped transform the lives of hundreds of thousands of people of all ages across many communities.

Profits from commercial activities like the QUAD Café Bar and cinema support this work.

However, after 15 years, QUAD’s building is suffering from wear and tear.

Essential equipment needs to be upgraded, while energy costs have significantly increased.

QUAD is now looking for funding to carry out refurbishment works, including to its cinema projectors, gallery, technical equipment and café bar.

It also needs to upgrade plumbing and lighting – and carry out improvements which can help make the building more environmentally sustainable and combat higher overheads going forward.

To raise money, the venue has launched a GoFundMe page, which can be found at https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-quad .

Recently, Derby City Council approved a £150,000 loan for QUAD to help the venue with cashflow.

Right now, customers can show their support in a number of ways, including donating to the GoFundMe campaign, making one-off donations via the box office or purchasing membership or tickets. More corporate hires are also welcomed.

Mark Gregory, chair of QUAD, said “We are working hard behind the scenes to deliver a high quality experience at QUAD and to enable our work with non-traditional audiences.

“In the meantime, we are reaching out for help to ease us through this period of challenge and change. Please help us to keep our doors open to everyone.”

In a statement, QUAD’s management said: “This current and unprecedented situation is part of a bigger picture, regionally and nationally, mainly because a large chunk of customers have simply not returned since Covid, as well as rising costs which have impacted us all.

“Most cultural organisations are operating as not-for-profit charities; profit margins for arts organisations are narrow at the best of times.

“Meanwhile for visitors, the cost-of-living crisis has not abated. QUAD offers a programme of free exhibitions and activities and reasonably priced Cine Kids cinema tickets and kids meals in the café bar as part of our summer offer.

“We know money can be an issue – and income shouldn’t be a barrier to taking part in culture.”