College cuts funding for concert programme

Funding for a concert programme at an Oxford college is set to be cut.

SJE Arts has become known for its Piano Series, operating out of St John the Evangelist Church in Oxford.

The church is the main chapel for theological college St Stephen's House, which has announced it is unable to resource concerts past 30 June.

Michèle Smith, SJE Arts director, said it would be "a really sad loss" but confirmed the series would continue at other venues.

In a statement, the college said it could no longer resource the event "in a way that is within both our means and our charitable ends".

Ms Smith joined the college in 2006 as a bursar and helped set up the Piano Series at St John's.

"The Grade I listed church, which is their main chapel, was in a very poor state of repair and I looked at ways to restore it," she explained.

"The college didn't have money to do that, so I considered turning it into a concert venue.

"In 2011, we held our first concert there and it's been going from strength to strength ever since."

This year marks the 12th edition of the series, which Ms Smith said has a "very strong following".

"We've attracted all sort of music, not just classical, we've had pop, indie, world music, Mongolian throat singers, Tibetan monks," she continued.

Following the announcement the college could no longer fund the church as a concert venue, Ms Smith said other colleges and venues had come forward, including St John's College.

She added she hoped "at some time in the future" the college would reconsider and open the church again for concerts.

College principal, the Reverend Canon Dr Robin Ward, said Ms Smith had been an "outstanding founder and inspirer of SJE Arts".

In a statement, St Stephen's House said it had given "close attention over the last year to succession planning for SJE Arts to secure its future".

"Regrettably, the college concluded in November that it was unable to resource SJE Arts in a way that is within both our means and our charitable ends," it explained.

It added that it was "well aware" of the venue's importance and it "remains committed to the use of the church of St John as a public amenity".

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