West London arts centre to close

An arts centre in Brentford featuring a theatre, a cinema, two galleries and studio spaces will close next month despite question marks over plans for it to move to a new location.

Watermans Arts Centre, run by Hounslow Arts Trust which receives £123,000 a year as part of Arts Council England's 2023-26 National Portfolio, opened in 1984 on the north bank of the River Thames, overlooking Kew Gardens.

Planning permission for a new arts centre, as part of a redvelopement of Brentford's old police station that also features 105 new homes and retail space, was granted in 2021 but work is yet to start, with Watermans current site due for demolition and redevelopment as flats.

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In a statement, the trust said the difficult decision to close Watermans "represents the best possible way of protecting both the interests of Hounslow residents and the organisation’s financial viability ahead of its relocation to the site of the old police station building in Brentford".

All programmed events and activities at the Watermans building will stop. Hounslow Arts Trust will continue to exist but with a focus on delivering a programme outside Watermans during the transition period.

"In the context of a challenging recovery period following the pandemic, the impact of energy price rises and the on-going costs of maintenance for the current venue, it makes operational and financial sense to focus on the delivery of outdoor events at Bell Square, Creative People and Places Hounslow activities and other community-based programmes which do not require use of the current building. 

"Each of these activities are fundamental to maintaining access to culture for Hounslow’s residents and Hounslow Arts Trust will continue to work with its stakeholders to ensure that the [Creative People and Places] programme and outdoor events programme continues."

However there are question marks over whether the new arts centre development will go ahead, with the three-year planning permission period due to expire next month.

A report on the progress of the project prepared for a meeting of Hounslow Council's cabinet last month puts the risks for the project at "red", stating that "failure to commence scheme before planning consent expires in April 2024 [is] likely to lead to non-delivery".

Other risks to the project are listed as "insufficient internal staff resources" and an "increase in number of homes required to make [the] scheme viable".

Inflation, increased cost of materials, shortages within the supply chain and labour market, and the increased cost of borrowing, are also highlighted as concerns.

'Heartbreaking' 

Jan Lennox, Director of Watermans, said it is "heart-breaking" that the venue is closing before the new building is ready. 

"However, we are working hard to continue to deliver our exciting programmes outside of the current building and to continue to plan for when the new building is ready. 

"A new building that will be more sustainable operationally and able to present an even stronger mix of high-quality dance, theatre, music, film and exhibitions.”

A Hounslow Council spokesperson said: “As a council we’re committed to supporting a rich cultural offer for the borough, recognising the many benefits arts and culture provide for our diverse communities. 

"Watermans plays an important role in delivering our ambitions for culture and we’re pleased it will remain able to offer the community-based programmes residents really value. 

"The cost-of-living crisis is putting enormous pressure on cultural venues across the country, and we support Hounslow Arts Trust taking the steps necessary to become sustainable.”