We're thrilled to extend a very warm welcome to five more organisations joining Future Arts Centres. It's fantastic to have you on board! Please join us in welcoming: ⚪ Art & Talking - the art centre of Chipping Norton (1/5)

A Future Arts Centres member, the Southbank Centre, is marking a significant milestone soon! Our Co-Directors Annabel Turpin & Gavin Barlow were delighted to be at the launch of their 75th anniversary programme last night. Find out what's in store for 2026: www.southbankcentre.co.uk/press/the-so...

Our Freedom Moving platform is part of @artscentres.bsky.social's national Our Freedom Then and Now project to mark 80 years since the end of the Second World War. It will involve more than 60 performers, dancers, and musicians who will explore what freedom means to us, then.. and now.

This week, we attended a Local History Group session at Gosforth Library to tell them all about Our Freedom Then and Now and the history of our wonderful building. Housed in the library is the war memorial which commemorates the people of Gosforth who lost their lives in the Second World War.

Congratulations to Abigail Pogson on being appointed as the new CEO of our London member the Barbican Centre. Abigail takes up her role in January, and we look forward to seeing her lead the Barbican through their exciting Renewal programme and beyond: www.barbican.org.uk/our-story/pr...

Our Co-Director Annabel Turpin welcomed Chris Bryant MP, Minister for Creative Industries, Arts and Tourism, to @storyhouselive.bsky.social this week to talk about the value and impact of arts centres like this one. Here’s to continuing the conversation about our power to make a difference.

"It's time to look more seriously at the role of arts centres as civic anchors... increasingly central to the health and wellbeing of communities" - says our Co-Director Annabel Turpin in this piece for Museums Journal (@museumsassociation.org): www.museumsassociation.org/museums-jour...

We’re thrilled to announce 22 photographers from Open Eye Gallery's Socially Engaged Photography Network will be capturing stories from #OurFreedom: Then and Now, culminating in a national exhibition in 2026. Meet them & learn more: ourfreedom.org.uk/news/new-nat... @artscouncilengland.bsky.social

Great to welcome @stephanie-peacock.bsky.social to @barnsleycivic.bsky.social and The Old Fire Station, Oxford this week, where she saw Our Freedom: Then & Now projects in action - from pop-up community exhibitions to creative work in development. #OurFreedom #ThenAndNow #CreativeCommunities (1/2)

Today is the 80th anniversary of VJ Day, marking the effective end of World War II. Public #Libraries are exploring what the end of the conflict meant to their communities through ‘Our Freedom: Then and Now’, a project funded by @dcmsgovuk.bsky.social. www.librariesconnected.org.uk/projects/lib...

What does our freedom mean? This VJ Day, Future Arts Centres is asking what freedom means to us all. 80 years on, freedom remains as important and all encompassing as ever. 🕊️ (1/6)

Our East Midlands member @levelcentre.bsky.social is seeking a new Director to steer it to achieve its artistic, financial and strategic objectives, championing the organisation as a leading contemporary arts centre that delivers meaningful creative opportunities for disabled people. Take a look 👇

🥬 Congratulations to @thehortonepsom.bsky.social who have recently opened The Horton Gardens. Designed with accessibility and nature at the forefront, the grounds are currently hosting an exciting programme of outdoor performances but are open for all to enjoy: thehortonepsom.org/news/the-hor...

Newham #Libraries are hosting community projects from August until November as part of 'Our Freedom: Then and Now'. 'Our Freedom' is funded by @dcmsgovuk.bsky.social, managed by @artscouncilengland.bsky.social and led by @artscentres.bsky.social. www.newhamrecorder.co.uk/news/2537506...

Great to see both our Co-Directors out and about yesterday visiting some fantastic venues! Annabel Turpin was at Theatre Porto in Ellesmere Port, while Gavin Barlow visited BEAM in Hertford. Always inspiring to connect with places and people doing extraordinary work in their local communities.

Congratulations to Derek Bond on being appointed Chief Executive Officer of The Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury. “I see my role – and The Roses’ job as a whole – as being an ambassador, an advocate, even a beacon for the value of creativity in our local communities” www.rosestheatre.org/news/the-ros...

Great to see that Bradford Arts Centre (@bdartscentre.bsky.social), formerly Kala Sangam, is set to complete its refurbishment soon and reopen its doors this October! Find out more in this piece by @artsprofessional.co.uk: www.artsprofessional.co.uk/news/refresh...

If you weren't able to attend this research event which saw Future Arts Centres joining with @uomcreativemcr.bsky.social to explore the role arts centres play in the UK's arts sector and the funding environment they operate in, you can now watch the recording online 👇

Brilliant to see the news that The Plough Arts Centre in Devon has been saved from closure thanks to emergency funding from Torridge District Council and Great Torrington Town Council. Great to see local authorities backing an arts centre with timely investment, supporting culture and communities.

Congratulations to Tom Maddicott on being appointed as the new CEO of our South West member Trowbridge Town Hall. An exciting moment for the Wiltshire venue as they prepare to re-open later this summer after their multi-million pound restoration! Find out more 👇

We're delighted to be welcoming three new members to Future Arts Centres! Historic Skipton Town Hall in North Yorkshire is the home of Craven Museum and Exhibition Gallery, the grand Concert Hall and the district’s Visitor Information Centre: skiptontownhall.co.uk (1/3)

Our Co-Directors Gavin Barlow & Annabel Turpin met with the University of Lincoln yesterday to explore joint research opportunities, including PhDs focused on arts centre practice. They also toured the new Barbican Creative Hub with Sukhy Johal MBE, Director of the Centre for Culture and Creativity.

OPPORTUNITY: Database Development Support Future Arts Centres is looking for a freelancer to help us establish a fit-for-purpose, cost-effective digital system to manage our interactions with members. Find out more: futureartscentres.org.uk/opportunity-... and apply by Friday 11 July 2025.

Great to be at #HOMEmcr today for our second Members' Meeting of the year, and fantastic to be joined by so many of our Future Arts Centres colleagues from across the UK for a day of discussion, feedback, and reflection. Brilliant to have you all here!

🎭🌍 We're thrilled to be supporting Sophie Cade from The Met, Bury, to attend FAMFEST CHILE 2025 this August, on behalf of #FutureArtsCentres. Sophie will be heading to Santiago to join global peers for EXPOESCENA, four days of learning, networking, and discovery. 📖 futureartscentres.org.uk/news/

'If we want to walk along Freedom Road then away we go' 🕊 Last week we marked the launch of Our Freedom: Then and Now with Simon Armitage's premiere of the poem #FreedomRoad. Art centres, libraries, and communities coming together to reflect on #OurFreedom and what freedom means to us all.

Interested in joining the Wider Leadership Team at #HOMEmcr? Our North West member is recruiting for a Head of Artist Development to shape and deliver their diverse artists development programmes. Find out more and apply by 10am on Monday 30 June 2025: homemcr.org/pQEwVcd/head...

Brilliant to be with the @artscentres.bsky.social team launching Our Freedom: Then and Now at @contactmcr.bsky.social today. And such a privilege to hear the first reading by Poet Laureate Simon Armitage of his new poem, #FreedomRoad. ourfreedom.org.uk #OurFreedom #RememberOurFreedom #ThenAndNow

Our staff were at Manchester today for the national launch of Our Freedom: Then & Now, an exciting new project we are involved in with 59 other cultural organisations across the UK. #OurFreedom #RememberOurFreedom @artscentres.bsky.social

'Our Freedom: Then and Now', a new UK-wide, locally-led arts and creative programme reflecting on the meaning of 'freedom' after VE and VJ Day launches in Manchester today! futureartscentres.org.uk/our-activiti...

80 years on, the question still matters. What does freedom mean? Our Freedom: Then and Now is a new nationwide programme marking 80 years since #WWII ended. 🕊️ (1/7)

Two compliments for my @artscentres.bsky.social book Tactics for the Tightrope today. 1. Grainne Woods of Rogue Encounters said l "I recognised so much of my own experience there, things I knew but had not previously had the words for." Free here or buy a paperback tacticsforthetightrope.com

Great to get together at #OldDiorama Arts Centre today and put the finishing touches to plans for the launch of Our Freedom at @contactmcr.bsky.social next Wednesday. Thanks to ODAC for having us (and thanks to Creative Director & Chief Executive Daniel Pitt for being our official photographer!).

Thanks to Arts Professional for sharing this report published by Future Arts Centres and Arup. While the Creative Foundations Fund announced by DCMS yesterday is a good start to addressing the issue, more is needed for our arts centres to be able to continue supporting the UK's creative communities.

Do you have a strong track record in delivering organisational growth through strategic programming and placemaking? Future Arts Centres member The Roses, based in Tewkesbury, is looking for a new Director (CEO) to guide their next chapter. Find out more 👉 www.rosestheatre.org/jobs/directo...

Thanks to @thestage.co.uk for sharing this new report published by Future Arts Centres and Arup. It sets out some of the issues, taking a look at what's required to fix them and the other factors that need to be addressed to ensure they remain fit for purpose futureartscentres.org.uk/report-shows...

Future Arts Centres and Arup, the global sustainable development consultancy, have joined forces to publish a new report highlighting the critical need to restore ageing cultural infrastructure and support creative communities across the UK. futureartscentres.org.uk/report-shows...