We are aware of a recent Facebook post regarding The Piece Hall.
We welcome recognition of the important role The Piece Hall plays in promoting local heritage, trade, culture and community values to the people of Halifax and the wider Calderdale Borough. It is a cherished asset, and we value the continued support we receive from across the district immensely.
The Piece Hall is predominantly funded by commercial income with some fundraising and a vital contribution from Calderdale Council. We are committed to ensuring that charitable funds are used efficiently, transparently and responsibly.
A recent independent economic impact report concluded that The Piece Hall has generated an estimated £680 million to our economy over the last decade, equating to approximately £426 per Calderdale resident, per year.
Despite challenging economic conditions, The Piece Hall Charitable Trust has a projected surplus of £290K for the 2024–25 financial year. This reflects ongoing careful and responsible financial management.
To clarify The Piece Hall Trust’s audited 2023/24 financial statements: some costs recorded under sundry and governance would have been more precisely described as legal and professional fees.
There was also a change in the classification of recharges relating to the Live Nation concert series in the 2023/24 accounts. This updated treatment better reflects the nature of the transactions in line with charity accounting regulations.
These disclosures have no impact on The Piece Hall Trust’s overall financial position. The 2023/24 accounts received a clean, unqualified audit.
The Trust remains a going concern, with adequate cashflow and the projected surplus. While the organisation faces medium to long-term financial pressures, public funding accounts for less than 5% of turnover, significantly lower than many comparable regional cultural organisations. In addition, unlike most heritage attractions, The Piece Hall cannot feasibly charge for admission and does not operate parking facilities to generate income. Despite these constraints, The Piece Hall’s economic impact is now around £90 million a year.
While we recognise that there is always more to do, we remain committed to developing The Piece Hall as an internationally renowned creative hub, delivering high-quality entertainment, skills training and opportunities, and economic benefit to the people and businesses of Calderdale.
Our latest audited accounts will be available and published in due course.