We would like to thank everyone who has taken the time to send us a message of support, or to write letters or emails on our behalf.

These pages - this and a second page - contain just a small selection of the many emails we have received.

You can view further messages of support on our Facebook group and MySpace page.

"To imagine that its work is either no longer necessary or irrelevant is false.

"Without places like The Drill Hall there would be an inevitable erosion of social progress and cultural sharing and diversity that is meant to be a cornerstone of government policy and thinking.

"To take away support would be an act of profound cynicism and hypocrisy and smacks of truly desperate measures."

Jan Pimblett MA

"I, like many others, became engaged and involved in the arts because of the challenging and truly unique theatre that The Drill Hall fosters.

"I'm deeply sad that future generations who, like myself, had little interest in theatre or the arts will now never get the opportunity to engage in the arts, as I did from my first visit to The Drill Hall.

"I hope that the Arts Council will reconsider their catastrophic decision and continue to support The Drill Hall and all its truly wonderful projects."

Eon Tulloch

"This is the only venue in London that is truly for LGBT people. Whatever happened to the Arts Council's commitment to equality and diversity?"

Gaby Charing

"Along with the similar withdrawal to our own queerupnorth group, these must be the most ridiculous decisions the Arts Council has considered for a very long time and in all honesty must be recinded if the council is to retain any credulity."

Alan J Edwards

"Some of my earliest and still memorable experiences of the uniquely diverse and inspirational London fringe theatre scene were provided by The Drill Hall.

"As a young actor at the very beginning of my career 25 years ago - and as a gay man unsure where I might find and contribute to an arts environment that would not just accept but use and celebrate my experiences, The Drill Hall was a revelation.

"In those dark days back in the early 80s when the arts generally and minority communities in particular were under attack from the establishment, discovering 16 Chenies Street was like finding a haven of sanity and respect.

"These days the Drill Hall is still the 'voice' of lesbian and gay arts for London.

"It delivers a programme of work for schools and young people's organisations that addresses homophobic bullying and sexuality and has developed a new lesbian and gay young people's programme based in the building and integral to The Drill Hall's work. Who else is doing this work?

"We all have much to thank The Drill Hall for - whatever our sexuality: it remains a bastion of free speech and daring artistic expression; it still challenges stereotypes and expectations of 'gay art' - in particular enriching and enhancing central London's otherwise increasingly dull and predictable theatre scene."

Richard Sandells

"I am writing to urge you to support The Drill Hall in its fight to retain funding from the Arts Council.

"The Drill Hall is an important and unique resource for lesbian and gay arts in London and the UK.

"Without The Drill Hall a huge number of lesbian shows would not have had a platform."

Crin Claxton
Festival Director
York Lesbian Arts Festival