London’s Best Kept Secret? Historic Hornsey Town Hall set for major investment into Arts Centre

• Historic Hornsey Town Hall was on Heritage England’s ‘At Risk’ register but is now set to be restored to its former modernist glory with a multi-million-pound facelift in close conjunction with the local community
• Urban Regeneration specialists The Time & Space Co, the team behind Birmingham’s Custard Factory & Wimbledon Studios will transform the deteriorating building into a vibrant cultural and artistic performance hub which will open the venue up to world class performance & increase utilisation of the town hall by up to 33%
• The Time + Space Co. will deliver high quality and diverse Arts programming which will combine innovative digital performance to compliment traditional live performance genres
• Figures released by The Time +Space Co. suggest as many as many as 300 jobs could be created across the revamped Town Hall and Arts Centre
• The search is now on to recruit a resident Artistic Director to manage the revamped Arts Centre and to solidify Hornsey as North London’s best performance venue and industry leading curator of performance art

The latest stage in the redevelopment of Hornsey Town Hall – previously on Heritage England’s ‘At Risk’ register – has been announced today.

The development will see a brand-new Arts Centre which will be operated by The Time + Space Co who were responsible for Birmingham’s Custard Factory and the commercially successful Wimbledon Studios. The Time & Space Co. have also announced a partnership with world leading 3D holographic projection company Musion – who are based onsite at Hornsey Town Hall.

It is estimated that the revamp of the Town Hall and Arts Centre could generate as many as 300 new jobs for local people. The search is now on for an Artistic Director to lead Hornsey Town Hall into the next phase of artistic curation.

The revamped Arts Centre which has been dubbed ‘London’s best kept secret’ will play host to world class performance artists and touring productions which the new Artistic Director will oversee. Facilities will include welcoming break-out lounge areas with private suites and co-working spaces; several theatrical rehearsal spaces within the restored performance auditorium; a private cinema; a roof-top bar and community recording studios. The Square at the front of the premises will be restored and transformed into a vibrant social hub where local cafés and restaurants can thrive.

Public consultation will be a key priority as the development moves forward, with a consensus beginning in July which will be followed by several cultural events and immersive workshops taking place onsite before the renovation begins. Provisions have also been made for community groups and local organisations to use the revamped spaces within the Arts Centre at affordable prices. Additionally, local businesses will continue to operate and be rehomed onsite once the redevelopment has been completed.

Time + Space Co.’s Managing Partner Piers Read said, “We are already in the process of curating a modern, future proofed arts centre that will offer first class entertainment and hospitality when it re-opens in 2020. Focusing on the needs of the local community and businesses is tantamount to our thinking. The new HTH arts centre will be inclusive as well as diverse and will celebrate all forms of creativity and artistic output. As a member of the local community, I recognise how unique this platform is and I am privileged to be able to create a special place for curation which will stand to become a major arts venue in the UK.”

Developers Far East Consortium (FEC) plan to restore much of the historic site, which includes the original auditorium, Council chamber, Mayors Parlour and Committee rooms, with the aim of making the building fully accessible to the public as outlined above. Plans for a new hotel, to be operated by Dorsett Hospitality International, as well as plans to build 135 new studio, one, two and three bedroom apartments, which will be situated in the grounds of the Town Hall.

The Town Hall has a rich cultural heritage which dates back to the 1960s. The famous auditorium sat 1000+ when it opened in 1935, hosting the likes of The Kinks who played their first ever gig at the Hall in 1969, as well as Queen who played a legendary set in 1971. Hornsey Town Hall will continue to operate in its’ current capacity until development starts in July 2019. The Time & Space Co have now entered into advanced talks with several high-profile candidates in contention for the role of Artistic Director, and the successful candidate is expected to assume the position next year.

The marketing suite at Hornsey Town Hall is now open. For further information about the Hornsey Town Hall project please contact the marketing suite on 020 3960 5888, email info@hornsey-townhall.co.uk or visit www.hornsey-townhall.co.uk