The Friends of the RWA Balcony Appeal 2023 – how you can help

How you can help the Friends transform the RWA balcony into a beautiful, green, accessible al fresco seating area…

The Friends are excited to launch a new fundraising project, to help create a lasting, transformative improvement to the RWA building. 

We aim to raise £6,000 to turn the RWA’s balcony into a beautiful al fresco seating area complete with new tables, chairs and planters, where Friends and visitors will be able to sit, enjoy a coffee and look out at one of the best views in Bristol.

Our fundraiser will also make the balcony – and the RWA itself – more accessible in two ways:

• A new ramp will be built over the existing ‘lip’ between the inside foyer area and the outside balcony so that wheelchair users and people with mobility issues can easily access the balcony for the first time. 
• As part of the same building project an evacuation ramp will be added to  the lower ground floor.  This would mean that schools supporting children with special educational needs and disabilities will be able to attend Happy Mondays sessions.  (The RWA currently has schools who would love to come and join in sessions, but who are unable to attend until we can guarantee emergency access for their pupils). It would also allow for disabled people attending lectures and talks downstairs in the Youngwood Room to be more easily evacuated in the event of an emergency.

All these ‘additions’ will enhance the RWA for Friends and for visitors; whatever their age and level of mobility.  The balcony has in the past been used for cafe seating but is now in need of restorative work, and funds from the Light and Inspiration project sadly don’t cover this project.

How you can help

It would be wonderful if the Friends could help to open up this unique outdoor space and further enhance the historic RWA building and visitor experience.

Any donation you can make, however large or small, will be hugely appreciated as we try to reach this target. You can donate in either of the following ways:

• Online by card or Paypal at cafdonate.cafonline.org/23499 
• By cheque. Send cheques payable to ‘Royal West of England Academy’ to: RWA, Queen’s Road, Bristol, BS8 1PX. Please write ‘Balcony fundraiser’ on the back of the cheque.

Thank you!

The Friends of the RWA is an independent registered charity (1107149) set up to support the RWA.
The RWA is a registered charity (1070163).

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The Friends of the RWA is an independent charity that supports the Royal West of England Academy, Bristol’s first art gallery. 

For just £35 a year Friends can make unlimited visits to RWA exhibitions and enjoy a host of other benefits, as well as making an important contribution to the arts in Bristol and the South West. Find out more and join up here.