Transformation
We want to transform this unused, unloved property into a vibrant, accessible, and much-loved space that brings together artistic communities and local people to inspire cultural and creative change and growth in Newcastle
A Fringe-style place
A place where freelance artists, grassroots groups, and micro cultural organisations can connect with each other and share their practice with the public.
A place that provides opportunities for community participation and creative skills development so that all people can enjoy, engage in, and enhance the arts.
A place that enables creatives, across different and combined art forms and disciplines, to exhibit, perform, and teach.
A place where people can creatively work, rest, and play together.
Sound good to you?
The ideal place!
Situated on Scotswood Rd, just a 5-minute walk from Newcastle Central Station, near Centre for Life, and next door to Bobby’s pub, it’s easy to get to. See the Layout Plans
The Building
The building has huge potential. We walked in last summer, and knew “this is the one!” We’ve been chasing the opportunity ever since.
Spread over three floors – ground, first and basement, once adapted it will provide:
* Several affordable workshop and rehearsal rooms
* A flexible theatre and exhibition space
* A hang-out bar and café
* A home for several small artistic businesses
* Co-work and hot-desking spaces
* Digital facilities and casting suite
All in an accessible, green, and socially-aware hub of creative activity.
What’s happening?
We have pre-approval for planning permission from Newcastle City Council for ‘change of use’ and they are very supportive of our formal application.
We are blessed to have an architect on board who has volunteered her services. She has designed the floorplans and elevations to support our application, and you can see some of those plans here.
We have appointed a solicitor, funded through Newcastle City Council and North of Tyne’s CityLife Business Support Services, and Creative England through North of Tyne is supporting our feasibility studies.
Feasibility Study
Crystallised has been appointed to run a market feasibility study and Naylors Gavin Black to run the building survey and study during April.
The feasibility study will help determine the capital costs of refurbishment, stages of development, and how best to serve our artistic community and visitors.
Summer get-in
There is a lot of work to be done over time. Major refurbishments will happen in modular stages in the longer term, but the layout of the building is good to start working with, and with a face-lift, we will be able to occupy the property this Summer.
Thanks to our Donors
We are extremely grateful to our Donors. Thus far, several wonderful people have donated £5020 which paid for the charity’s start-up costs and will help towards the planning permissions and springboard the development. Thanks to all of them for believing in us. We could not have reached where we are now without their generous support.
Find out how you could donate your time, money, and skills and help make this opportunity happen
Read about our founder and board of trustees, and why Boho Arts came about.