Nine Elms cultural offer receives major boost

Ballymore invites bids from arts organisation for a permanent new base on its flagship Embassy Gardens development. Ambitions to create a new cultural destination at Embassy Gardens has had a major boost with a fresh ‘call-out’ to organisations invited to pitch for a permanent residence on the development. Bids from arts or creative organisations who can show how they will work with local communities are being invited to apply for the prize of occupying a 750 square metre cultural space in the heart of the development on Embassy Gardens at “peppercorn rents”, thanks to a legal agreement between Ballymore and Wandsworth Council. The new cultural space is to be located next to the new US Embassy - which alone is expected to attract around 2,500 visitors a day - and its surrounding business quarter and the new Nine Elms linear park. The new venue is one of several new creative spaces secured by Wandsworth Council as part of an area-wide cultural development strategy for Nine Elms. Recently established cultural anchors in Nine Elms include the Royal College of Art’s StudioRCA at Riverlight while Battersea Arts Centre is partnering with Battersea Power Station to deliver a new Village Hall community space opening later this year. The wider Nine Elms and Vauxhall area is already enjoying a blossoming arts scene. This includes Newport Street Gallery, Cabinet, Gasworks, Beaconsfield Gallery Vauxhall and Pump House Gallery in an emerging gallery quarter. Ravi Govindia, leader of Wandsworth Council said: “For Nine Elms to become the lively, vibrant place we want it to be we need the right cultural partners in the area. We already have a wealth of assets on the doorstep, not least Battersea Power Station, New Covent Garden Market and Pump House Gallery, and we want to strengthen our cultural scene and welcome new creatives to Nine Elms. “This call-out with Ballymore gives us another exciting opportunity. We are looking for an organisation that can really engage with our local communities and visitors. This space requires a year-round programme of public events that will bring this place to life, draw people in and showcase the best of London’s creative talent.” Nine Elms, said by former Mayor Boris Johnson to represent “quite possibly the most important regeneration story in London, possibly in the UK, in the next 20 years”, encompasses a vast area, running from Lambeth Bridge, three kilometres down river to Chelsea Bridge, to the south and the reborn Battersea Power Station site. It will deliver 20,000 new homes and 6.5m sq.ft of commercial space. Organisations must demonstrate commitment to existing local communities and year-round programming for public engagement, and to evidence financial stability. Written applications must be received by Friday 28th April 2017. Shortlisted organisations will then be invited to an interview with a panel comprised of experts from the cultural sector, Wandsworth Council and Ballymore.