Artsdepot

Infobox Theatre
name = artsdepot


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address = 5 Nether Street, Tally Ho Corner N12 0GA
city = Barnet, London
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architect = Ruddle Wilkinson
owner =
capacity = 395 and 158
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opened = 23 October, 2004
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rebuilt =
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website = www.artsdepot.co.ukThe artsdepot is a multi-purpose cultural centre located in North Finchley, in the London borough of Barnet. It was officially opened on 23 October, 2004 for the enjoyment and development of the arts in North London.

Activities

The arts programme offers high quality professional performances in two main theatre spaces, The Pentland Theatre with 395 seats and a Studio Theatre with 158 seats. The building also contains dance and drama studios, a gallery space and a cafe. The programme of performances ranges from theatre, to live music, comedy, dance, visual art, spoken word and children's events.

artsdepot runs an extensive education programme of courses and classes for children and adults. Outreach and strategic partnerships include working with local schools, artistic companies, other venues and festivals to deliver arts education to all sectors of the local community.

History

artsdepot was conceived by the local community in 1996 through a conference called Barnet 2000 which addressed what new and improved services the borough’s residents would like to see in Barnet at the new Millennium. What emerged from Barnet 2000 was an overwhelming need for more professional arts facilities, in fact a larger version of The Bull Arts Centre in High Barnet, which was then the only professional, if small, arts centre in the borough.

The London Borough of Barnet then put the project in motion and teamed up with developers Taylor Woodrow and The Bull Arts Centre’s director, Alison Duthie, to develop plans for North Finchley’s regeneration and what was to become artsdepot. The site on which artsdepot was built had been empty, apart from a weekly market that was relocated to the nearby Lodge Lane car park, for over 20 years, since the Gaumont cinema closed down in the 1970s and later demolished in the 1980s.

In December 2001 the project was officially launched by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Tessa Jowell, when the building works began and the name, artsdepot, was unveiled.

The artsdepot was open to the public for the first time on Saturday 23 October, 2004 and welcomed over 2,500 visitors through its doors for its Community Open Day. The building was officially opened on 26 November 2004 by HRH The Earl of Wessex [Kummer, Sophie. [http://www.times-series.co.uk/search/display.var.540213.0.prince_takes_centre_stage.php Prince takes center stage] "Barnet Times", October 27 2004. Accessed October 20 2007] .

References

External links

*Official Website: [http://www.artsdepot.co.uk artsdepot]
* [http://www.visitlondon.com/attractions/detail/246488 VisitLondon] - entry on artsdepot at VisitLondon