Fundraising attempts to save Harrow Arts Centre have failed.

Harrow Council said they can no longer afford the £500,000 annual subsidy to keep the Uxbridge Road centre open.

It has just told staff it would explore a “different direction” after plans with charity CulturaLondon to transform the site into a cultural hub fell short of fundraising targets.

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All services – including productions and classes at the Arts Centre, bookings at Headstone Manor and the Harrow Music Service – will continue as normal and are unaffected by the announcement.

The arts centre has operated on the site of the Grade II Listed Elliott Hall since 1989.

In January this year, Harrow Council and CulturaLondon, an independent charitable trust, set an initial £3.5 million fundraising target to start redeveloping the Hatch End-based Arts Centre – with new features to include cinemas, galleries, restaurants, bars and a new, larger theatre to complement the historic Elliott Hall.

Cllr Sue Anderson, Harrow Council portfolio holder for culture, said: “Our residents treasure the Arts Centre – and we have tried everything to help make CulturaLondon’s magnificent vision a reality.

"Sadly, even with the Council’s £1m grant, the charitable funds just haven’t come forward and it would be irresponsible to put any more Council money into the project. We are very grateful to CulturaLondon, who worked their socks off, and especial thanks to its amazing trustees for giving their valuable time and effort voluntarily to this cause.

“We are now looking at a different direction and new ways to use our limited resources to support a thriving and diverse arts and culture offer, not just at Elliott Hall, but also in performance spaces across the borough – from the Arc House at Lowlands to our newly refurbished libraries."

The first phase of CulturaLondon’s £17 million project was designed as the springboard to make the Arts Centre financially self-sustaining.

It included the construction of a two-screen cinema at the Arts Centre, with café and bar.

To help get the project off the ground, over the past few months Harrow Council offered extra support – offering to extend the site’s lease from 25 years to 90 years; transforming a £1m loan into a £1m grant pledge; offering a two-year rent holiday for the site; and putting forward £1.6m in funds in maintenance for Elliott Hall.

The project had aimed to attract more than £2 million in funding from grants and other industry funding, as well as £250,000 from the general public.

Harrow Council had planned to transfer the Arts Centre as well as Harrow’s premier historic site, Headstone Manor and Museum and Harrow Music Service to CulturaLondon.