Future Cities Forum Summer Awards 2025: heritage projects to be judged

Image: Palais de Danse, St. Ives Cornwall courtesy of Tate / Adam Khan Architects

Future Cities Forum is releasing the projects in its heritage category, to be assessed at our Summer Awards 2025 judging session this week.

Palais de Danse in St Ives

Tate St Ives says:

'Coinciding with the Heritage Fund’s #HeritageTreasures day, Tate St Ives is proud to announce it has been awarded £2.8 million in funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to restore and reopen the historic Palais de Danse in St Ives. Closed to the public for 65 years, this landmark building will be reimagined as a vibrant cultural and community space, revealing a unique 300-year story linking British art history – through the work of Barbara Hepworth, one of Britain’s greatest modern artists – and the building’s significance to the local community.

'The Grade II listed Palais de Danse has played a vital role in St Ives’s artistic and social heritage. Originally a cinema and dance hall in the early 1900s, it later became Hepworth’s second studio from 1961 to 1975, where she created some of her most celebrated works, including the monumental Single Form 1961–4. This transformative project will restore key elements of the building, including the grid-marked floor in the lower workshop which still bears the outline of Single Form, and the dance hall, with its 24-metre sprung maple floor and recreated glassine screens designed by Hepworth.

The restoration will feature an immersive recreation of Hepworth’s workshop spaces on the ground floor, offering visitors a glimpse into her creative process. The first floor’s expansive dance hall will be revitalised as a ‘living heritage’ space, hosting performances, screenings, and community activities. For the first time, the yard outside will be opened to the public, providing a new workshop and outdoor space for hands on art making. Through year-round community programming, this will inspire creative skills development. Enhanced accessibility, including a step-free design, will also ensure the Palais welcomes everyone.

'Anne Barlow, Director, Tate St Ives, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to have secured funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund for the Palais de Danse project. This brings us to two-thirds of our fundraising goal and marks a significant milestone in our journey to transform this historic building that, from 1961–75, was Barbara Hepworth’s studio where she made some of her most ambitious large-scale works. We are excited to be working towards re-imagining the Palais de Danse as a vibrant heritage site that builds on Hepworth’s remarkable legacy and actively engages our local communities.”

Stuart McLeod, Director of England – London & South at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “One of the things that stood out for us with Tate St Ives and Palais de Dance was the huge impact this project will have on the community and people of St Ives, as well as the wider impact for Cornwall. The project will help boost the local economy and create new spaces for interpretation with creative engagement, and focus on developing young people through new skills and apprenticeships."

'Alongside funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, made possible by National Lottery players, the project has also received support from several trusts, foundations, and individuals, including The Headley Trust, The Bowness Family, The Hepworth Estate, The Porthmeor Fund, and The Bridget Riley Art Foundation.

Above: image courtesy HOME

HOME Arches Manchester

HOME (Manchester's premier arts centre and a registered charity has reported that HOME Arches 'offers 5000 free hours each year for artists and creative freelancers, with 50% dedicated to groups underrepresented in the industry.'

It says:

'HOME Arches, Manchester’s world class, free-to-use, artist development hub and public realm gallery, spread across three arches on Whitworth Street West, has threw open its doors with a creative launch taking place on Thu 23 Jan 2025 showcasing some of the first theatre makers, visual artists and filmmakers to use the space.

'The 258 sqm hub, which is part of HOME, Manchester’s premier arts centre, and a registered charity, will help democratise the access to the arts by offering 5,000 free hours of making, studio and development space for artists and creative freelancers each year, with space for residencies, supported co-working and networking opportunities, plus access to technical equipment and expertise.

'50% of this space is dedicated to artists from groups currently underrepresented in the industry, including members of the Global Majority, d/Deaf and disabled artists, and artists from lower socio-economic backgrounds.

'Installations from socially engaged, interdisciplinary artist and producer, Sophie Mahon, and Omid Asad, a visual artist born and raised in Iran and now based in Manchester, are the first to show in the space. Afreena Islam-Wright also delivered a one-off performance of her show LUCKY TONIGHT! as part of the launch, which features in this year’s PUSH Festival at HOME.

'All three artists showcased are from the At HOME with Jerwood 12-month residency programme, funded by the Jerwood Foundation, which supports cross art form artists making a step-change in their practice and career.

HOME Arches will now house HOME’s impactful artist development programme, which already works with more than 1000 artists per year, allowing it to reach its full potential, becoming the centre’s ‘Engine Room’ and inspiring HOME’s public programme and beyond.

'HOME Arches will create a vibrant and diverse artistic ecology within the North-West where artists can thrive, supporting the clear need for additional, affordable productive workspace in the city centre.

'The Arches will also provide vital support for flagship projects such as PUSH Festival, HOME’s biennial celebration of North West creative talent, providing spaces to make and test work, a place for artists to come together to share learning, a hub during the festival for workshops, talks and skills sharing.

'Whilst primarily a development space for artists to explore and test new ideas, the hub also houses Arches Windows, a custom built public realm exhibition space that will present an ever changing range of work from sculptural to digital, permanently visible to the public from Whitworth Street West.

'Omid Asad’s opening show is a stained glass infusion of colour and light, taking inspiration from the building’s form and structure and imbue it with vibrancy and life. The coming months will see work from sculptural artist, Maisie Pritchard, created through workshops, and prolific public artist Venessa Scott who is also part of HOME’s Artist Panel.

'HOME Arches was designed in collaboration with HOME’s Artist Panel, and consultation with the wider artistic community, has three main spaces.

'The central Arch 2, newly-named the ‘Sir Bob Scott Arch’ to honour one of HOME’s greatest supporters, former Chair of the Granada Foundation, is entered directly from HOME, and houses co-working, meeting and networking space for artists, including a meeting/quiet room, IT facilities, lockers and kitchen, plus access to Arches 1 and 3.

'Arch 1 features a fully equipped studio space for up to 60 people, a space for artists to explore their practice and test new ideas. It is a double height, flexible space with black-out capability, a high level of soundproofing, as well as facilities including a sprung dance floor and lighting/sound rig, showers and toilets.

'Arch 3 is a double height, creative making facility for up to 30 artists to collaborate across disciplines, creating work in an environment made for experimentation.'

Image: courtesy HOME

Karen O’Neill, CEO of HOME, comments: “Since opening in 2015, HOME has been committed to supporting, investing in, and providing opportunities for artists across Greater Manchester and the North, from weekly drop-in sessions to commissions across theatre, film and visual arts. HOME Arches has been a key part of our strategy for artists’ development for many years, so to be opening these new spaces in 2025, our 10-year anniversary, is really special.

“HOME Arches will provide high quality free space and facilities for artists to develop work, create, share ideas and continue to be supported by HOME’s Artist Development programmes. The investment and support for the Arches by our funders, donors and supporters confirms that Manchester values culture, and the city continues to grow as a place that artists and creativity can thrive in. HOME is excited for the Arches to be part of Manchester’s world leading cultural sector.”

Councillor Garry Bridges, Deputy Leader of Manchester City Council, said: “Culture plays a huge part in the success of Manchester and is a massive draw for visitors from around the globe, as well as helping attract people to live, work and study here.

“Supporting local artists and creative communities is therefore really important to us and is an integral part of our ten-year cultural ambition plan for Manchester that we launched last year.

“We know how important it is to have places artists can work, create and collaborate with others in, and the HOME arches provide just that. It’s brilliant then to see these previously un-used spaces brought back into life, providing vital space and new opportunities in the heart of the city for our immensely talented and fast-growing community of creatives whose work helps showcase Manchester to the world.”

The Granada Foundation, comments: “The Granada Foundation is delighted to be able to mark Sir Bob Scott’s many years of supporting culture in the North West by naming the Central Arch of this transformational HOME Arches development in his honour. It is a wonderful way to recognise his work in the region on so many fronts and of course his strong support for HOME, and Cornerhouse before that, during his 40 years as Chair of our Foundation.

“The Granada Foundation is dedicated to continuing its work to support arts and science organisations in our region in the years to come under the guidance of our new Chair, Dr Virginia Tandy OBE.”

The Artist Panel fed into the design and fit out, took part in programming and developing processes for the spaces, in addition to acting as advocates for the project, and leading on wider consultation with the artistic community. It includes theatre maker Afreena Islam-Wright, artist who can code Lisa Mattocks, film producer Loran Dunn, artist-curator Luca Shaw, director, producer, choreographer, and vogue house mother Darren Pritchard, Latinx British-Bolivian theatre-maker, movement director and actor Jenni Jackson, public artist Venessa Scott, artist and creative technologist Dan Hett and actor and Co-Creative Lead of TripleC Cherylee Houston MBE.

HOME Arches is funded by the UK Government, Manchester City Council, The Wolfson Foundation, Ask Real Estate, The Foyle Foundation, The Granada Foundation alongside trust, corporate, individual and anonymous contributors to support the growth and development of the cultural sector and ensure access to the cultural offer.

Artists

Image: courtesy of Pilbrow & Partners

Soho Theatre, Walthamstow

Pilbrow & Partners has described the 10 year project it carried out for Soho Theatre and Waltham Forest Council, working alongside Wilmott Dixon .

'Soho Theatre Walthamstow represents the renewal of the former Granada, a Grade II* listed interwar cinema into a vibrant cultural hub for the community. By adapting the cinema’s large auditorium into a more intimate 1,000 capacity venue, with curved stall seating, our design enhances sightlines, and the audience connection with actors onstage, while preserving and restoring the venue’s much-loved heritage interiors.

'Externally, the original high street frontage, including the building’s Spanish baroque gable and ornate first-storey windows has been reinstated. Inside, a new fly tower supports a larger stage and new dedicated backstage area, while a new street entrance creates greater flexibility, enabling the venue to stage a wider range of productions. The design also allows for a new and enlarged foyer and the addition of community spaces to support a range of cultural and educational activity. The auditorium is insulated and wrapped in durable zinc cladding, and two additional circulation cores on either side of the foyers are designed to improve accessibility and accommodate new, energy efficient heating and cooling systems.

'Combined with a photovoltaic array on the south facing portions of the roof, the building is set to outperform the original building’s energy performance by 80%. Having stood empty for the last 15 years, the cinema was the subject of a community campaign for its restoration. The project forms the centrepiece of a wider, culturally led regeneration initiative by Waltham Forest.

Soho Theatre has commented:

'Beautifully restored from the 1930s former Granada by Waltham Forest Council in partnership with Soho Theatre, the new venue includes a refurbished Grade II* listed auditorium, brand-new studio spaces, backstage facilities, four bars (Main Foyer, Ziggurat, Cross Hall and Circle), and a restaurant. Recreating the buzzing atmosphere of Soho Theatre Bar within a magnificent heritage surrounding, Soho Theatre will run the food & beverage offer in-house, featuring Neon, Soho Theatre’s own lager with Adnams and East London Brewery brewed locally in the borough.  A local theatre with a national profile, Soho Theatre Walthamstow will feature a world-class line-up for audiences from across London and beyond and will sit alongside Soho Theatre Dean Street as the iconic central London venue celebrates 25 years at the forefront of cutting-edge new theatre, comedy and cabaret. 

'Soho Theatre Walthamstow is a vibrant new theatre steeped in a rich history. A performance venue since 1897, in 1930 the site was redeveloped and opened with exteriors designed by Cecil Masey and extraordinary ornate interior decoration by Theodore Komisarjevsky, inspired by the Alhambra Palace in Granada, Spain. Majestic and awe-inspiring, the new Granada hosted comedy, panto, drag, music and film.  From the mid-1950s artists including The Beatles, Buddy Holly, Roy Orbinson, Dusty Springfield, The Who, The Ronettes, Chuck Berry, Duke Ellington and the Rolling Stones performed there, and a pantomime was presented each Christmas.  The last live performance took place in 1973 and the Granada became a cinema, changing owners until it became known as the EMD Cinema sadly closing its doors in 2003. 

'In 2003 the building was sold to the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God and for more than a decade it lay empty as they sought planning permission to turn it into a church whilst it fell into disrepair.  Concerned about the loss of this much-loved cultural space, local grassroots groups including McGuffin Film Society and Save Walthamstow Cinema led a passionate campaign against losing its use as an entertainment venue and to preserve its heritage. In 2010 the Waltham Forest Cinema Trust joined the campaign, a newly established local group to bring a clear new vision for the venue’s viable future, working closely with Soho Theatre. Joining forces with Waltham Forest Council, they successfully demonstrated to a Public Inquiry that the venue could be reinvented as a new theatre for live performance, with a focus on comedy, panto and theatre. This led to the church’s planning application being decisively rejected for the final time. 

'UCKG sold the building on to pub chain Antic in 2014, who briefly ran the bar Mirth, Marvel and Maud, opening up the magnificent historic foyer to the public for the first time in over 10 years. Having continued to develop the vision and detailed plans, Soho Theatre reached an agreement with Waltham Forest Council to operate the venue, and in 2019 Waltham Forest Council, in partnership with Soho Theatre purchased, and invested into the restoration of the former Granada Grade II* listed building as part of the council’s London Borough of Culture 2019 legacy commitment. They have worked with developers Willmott Dixon Interiors, Bond Bryan Architects Ltd to renovate, refurbish and breathe new life into the historic building, alongside Soho Theatre. The Soho Theatre team inputted into operation, architecture (with support from Matthew Baker, MAD-Design Ltd), design (with support from Jane Wheeler, JaneJaney Design) and how to make the venture successful. Together creating a major new cultural hub for London at the heart of the local community of Waltham Forest.' 

Chair of Soho Theatre, Dame Heather Rabbatts DBE said: “It’s been an incredible journey for Soho Theatre. We’re a small theatre, always managing to creatively punch above our weight and with an impact that has been felt in TV, film and commercial theatre. The fantastic array of artists that we’ve worked with, together with our presence at Edinburgh Fringe, in India and elsewhere is testament to that. But we’re no longer a small theatre. Alongside the creative powerhouse that is our Dean Street home, we’ll be presenting world class artists to even larger audiences in our new and gloriously refurbished venue in Walthamstow, East London.”