Creating a focal point for dance in North London
artsdepot is delighted to announce that from September 2013, the higher education vocational dance college London Studio Centre will take up permanent residence at the venue.
London Studio Centre, previously based near Kings Cross, initially joined artsdepot on a temporary basis for the 2012/13 academic year with around 200 first and second year students studying at the venue. From September 2013 LSC will make North Finchley its permanent home and this number will increase to over 300 with third years joining their fellow students on site. London Studio Centre’s facilities at artsdepot will include rehearsal studios, lecture rooms and performance spaces.
LSC’s relocation to artsdepot provides students with a unique opportunity to access professional performance spaces, as well as participate in forums, workshops and master classes with the artists and companies who perform at the venue. Students have recently participated in a dance class with BalletBoyz, a Q&A with Ballet Black, and LSC is collaborating with artsdepot on a summer school for young people with no prior dance experience.
Kerry Andrews, Artistic Director of artsdepot said: “It’s truly amazing for us to have the next generation of dance makers based at artsdepot. There are so many possibilities of working collaboratively in the future; next year artsdepot celebrates its 10th anniversary and we’re looking forward to joining forces with LSC students to create a memorable celebration. Having such a prestigious dance college on site will also firmly establish artsdepot as a destination venue for touring dance companies from the UK and internationally. The future is looking really exciting!”
Nic Espinosa, Director of London Studio Centre said: “We’ve loved the last year at artsdepot and are delighted to be remaining in North Finchley, establishing a new and unique partnership with artsdepot. We were immediately struck by all that the venue has to offer in terms of training and performance. Our partnership with artsdepot provides additional opportunities for the substantial development for LSC in the longer term, in a unique performing arts environment; we believe these exciting developments will provide LSC with the opportunity to enhance our position as one of the powerhouses of Dance Education.”
Tracy Cooper, Chief Executive of artsdepot said: “We’re thrilled that London Studio Centre will be making artsdepot their home permanently. The staff and students have brought a real vibrancy to the venue. This partnership between an arts centre and a performing arts college is unique in the cultural sector and brings with it opportunities for both organisations to collaborate and share creative ideas.”
This year will also see significant developments in the area around artsdepot, following North Finchley’s successful bid for £1.1 million from the Mayor of London’s Outer London Fund, which promises economic regeneration and the development of a cultural quarter with artsdepot at its core.
EDITORS NOTES
artsdepot is a leading cultural hub in North London and has been celebrating the arts since 2004. The award-winning venue has its roots firmly in the community, nurturing young talent, and engaging with people through participation and outreach projects, whilst presenting artists from across the globe. With its vibrant programme of performances and exhibitions, artsdepot surprises and thrills audiences of all ages.
A thriving venue, artsdepot welcomes over 100,000 visitors every year, people who come to watch, learn or be inspired. With its stunning architecture, welcoming public spaces and diverse programme, artsdepot creates space for the imagination.
London Borough of Barnet’s funding of artsdepot which amounted to £194,000 per year ceased on 31 March 2011. The grant was equivalent to 35% of artsdepot’s core funding at the time.
Following a prudent organisational restructure with a focus on reducing costs, artsdepot survived this uncertain period and actually showed growth in the forthcoming year. In the period from September 2010 – August 2011, audience capacity stood at 63%, this increased to 68% for the same period in 2011/12. The venue’s popularity continues to rise with audience capacity reaching an astonishing 80% across its autumn 2012 season.
artsdepot opened in 2004 and went on to establish itself as one of North London’s leading arts centres. The venue almost faced closure following the complete removal of local authority support in 2011. artsdepot’s partnership with London Studio Centre helps to create a sustainable financial model, securing the venue’s future.
The new sustainable business model ensures that artsdepot can focus on delivering its artistic programme of theatre, dance, comedy, music and family events, plus a host of participation activities, in addition to supporting the development of emerging artists and fostering artistic collaborations. The announcement comes at a very exciting time for artsdepot as the venue looks forward to celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2014.
artsdepot’s partnership with London Studio Centre will result in considerable economic benefits for the borough. The number of people coming through the venue every day (students plus audience members and visitors) is expected to increase to between 500 – 1000. An economic impact assessment suggests the partnership will deliver £4 million of annual spending within the London Borough of Barnet.¹
Tracy Cooper, Chief Executive of artsdepot, was named in the UK’s first ever Power Part Time list (a prestigious list of 50 of the most senior level part time workers in the UK), recognising her role in saving artsdepot from closure following the complete removal of local authority support in 2011. Tracy is also a member of the Mayor of London’s London Cultural Strategy Group.
[1] The economic impact assessment drew on research by The New Economics Foundation (from a study in Northumberland) which demonstrated that every ‘£1 spent with a local supplier is worth £1.76 to the local economy’. The combined economic impact includes rents and service charges (both from artsdepot, London Studio Centre and students and staff that live locally), ancillary spend from audiences, students, staff and visitors in local restaurants, bars, supermarkets and shops, and artsdepot/LSC spend with local suppliers and advisory businesses, to reach an estimate of £2.325 million x local spend multiplier of 1.76.
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Added 05-Mar-2013 09:00:00