NET Centre Review

A recent exhaustive review of the proposed NET Centre project by the Trustees of the Embroiderers' Guild, has established that the project poses an unacceptable risk to the long-term future of the Guild. The Trustees have a responsibility to safeguard this future, and in the light of this, have decided with great regret to withdraw from the NET Centre project.

The main areas of concern are

• The commitment required of the Embroiderers' Guild to underwrite the annual running costs of the NET Centre would necessitate very significant additional annual fundraising to supplement the increased commercial activities by the Guild. The burden this would place on the Guild's governing body, its members and its supporters would be overwhelming.
• The Guild is required to have the full funding for the NET Centre in place before construction can start, and there is currently a shortfall of approximately one million pounds plus. The ERDF grant funding requires the building to be completed by December 2008. We are advised by professional fundraisers that we are unlikely to achieve this additional funding within this timescale.

The Director and the Trustees have taken this decision with great reluctance, and are mindful of the great effort and hard work that has been put into the project so far by so many people.

We will now undertake a review of our Strategic Plan, and develop a new business plan to support the future development of the Guild. The Trustees believe that this decision will ensure that the Embroiderers' Guild has a sustainable and financially viable future supporting its members, developing the museum collection, and serving the wider community.

The Guild wishes to thank all Members and those who have supported the Guild's aspiration to create a national centre for embroidery. This support has included numerous fundraising projects undertaken by Embroiderers' Guild Members which we have been proud to display on this web site. In continued recognition of this support and hard work by Guild members, these schemes remain displayed on the Members' pages of the Guild website.

Please contact the following staff at the Guild for any further information:
Jane Sweet, Lynn Szygenda, and Janet Jardine
Tel +44(0)20 8943 1229

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