Norden Farm Centre for the Arts

Norden Farm Centre for the Arts is a multi form arts centre located in Maidenhead, Berkshire, England providing high quality arts events and participation activities accessilbe to everyone in a 225 seat theatre and 100 seat studio space. Following calls for an arts centre in Maidenhead since the 1970s, Norden Farm eventually opened in September 2000.

In 1992 an opportunity arose to consider part of the Norden Farm estate, sought for redevelopment. The site offered listed buildings together with a quality ambiance suited to creative activity, an opportunity to preserve part of Maidenheads heritage and close proximity to the heart of the community which would enable use of the facility to be maximised.

It was purpose built to provide a truly flexible performance space, able to serve the needs of the professional performer, community groups and a broad range of community activities.

The total project cost was £9 million. The balance was raised from local authority funding, Foundation for Sports and the Arts, and local fundraising from companies and individuals.The National Lottery awarded £5,295,000 for the capital project plus £492,000 for the initial land purchase.

A trust with Registered Charity status, Norden Farm Centre Trust, was established to manage the project. Work commenced on building Norden Farm arts centre in early 1994.

In autumn 1994 the National Lottery commenced and Norden Farm Centre Trust applied to the Arts Council for lottery funding to complete Norden Farm.

Following an intensive and detailed design and public consultation phase, planning approval was granted in September 1994. The Arts Council carried out a full assessment during 1997, prior to an announcement of support and approval for the finished scheme in January 1998.

The final design stage of the project was completed in 1998 and Norden Farm Centre for the Arts finally opened its doors on the 17th September 2000.

When the centre opened, Norden Farm could boast state-of-the-art facilities that consisted of a courtyard theatre (seating 225), studio theatre (seating 100), meeting rooms in the Georgian farm house, art gallery, Eighteenth century long barn (workshop/meeting space), a media suite, and bar cafe area.

Under the direction of Annabel Turpin, the art centre built up an outstanding reputation within the South of England, with a number of top professionals from the worlds of theatre, cabaret, comedy, jazz, classical music and literature performing there.

In 2005 the centre started a series of sell out monthly cabaret nights, with a number of well known West End performers being booked.

Annabel Turpin moved in May 2008 to Stockton on Tees arts centre,Arc.

Jane Corry, previously producer of The People Show, one of the UK's longest running theatre companies joined Norden Farm in December 2008 and continues to develop the programme.

Norden Farm also has a number of resident companies including 1157, which aims to produce unique, daring and controversial work.

Up to 3,500 people a week visit the centre for a variety of live shows, films, classes and workshops.

References

• Arts Council England: Norden Farm Centre for the Arts
• Public Art Online: Case Study: Norden Farm Centre for the Arts
• Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead: Norden Farm, Centre for the Arts
• Maidenhead Drama Guild Venue

Links

• Official site.