Emma Thompson (Photo Credit: Nick Haddow)
A welcome boost as we launch our new #BrickbyBrick campaign
Emma Thompson, who wrote the screenplay and starred in the 1995 adaptation of Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility, has come out in support of our urgent appeal to keep Jane Austen’s ‘Great House’ open.
Speaking about the appeal, Thompson says: “As someone who has engaged in great detail with Jane Austen’s work, particularly Sense and Sensibility, I understand how special Jane Austen is, and will continue to be, for readers and writers around the world. That’s why securing and enhancing her ‘Great House’ is so important – not only because it’s an important part of her heritage but also because it places her in the context of a whole community of early women writers.”
Her support gives us a welcome boost a week after launching our new #BrickbyBrick appeal, where supporters can ‘buy a brick’ and help us save the ‘Great House’ one brick at a time. All donors will appear on our virtual wall as well as receiving a beautiful, personalised certificate. The appeal has got off to a great start, raising just over £1,000 in its first week!
The team here are actively investigating new ways to improve the visitor facilities such as the café, shop and exhibition spaces to attract and accommodate a much wider visitor audience. We are appealing for funds to help keep us going while we work on major funding bids to organisations like the Heritage Lottery Fund and Arts Council England. Emma Thompson says, “The ‘Great House’ has the makings of a major cultural visitor destination but it needs our support to reach its full potential.”
Please consider ‘buying a brick’ to help us secure the future of this uniquely special place.