Arts centres and libraries are trusted civic spaces, and that trust is what made these UK-wide conversations on what freedom means today possible. Read Annabel and Gavin's reflections on #OurFreedom: Then and Now 👇
A woman in a long, bright blue cape, with a small crown on her head, stands on a road. Photo by Anneleen Lindsay with West Dunbartonshire Council, Clydebank.
The journey continues. Photography exhibition Our Freedom: Then and Now will tour to 18 arts centres and libraries across the UK this year, sharing stories of people, place and belonging from communities nationwide. Also online from 18 March ourfreedom.org.uk/news/our-fre...
#OurFreedom #ThenAndNow
Brick and glass exterior of Pyramid Arts Centre, a Grade II listed building (former Magistrates Court and sports hall).
And Pyramid Arts Centre - a much‑loved venue in Warrington’s Cultural Quarter, currently undergoing a major refurbishment that will transform the space for future audiences.
A warm welcome to you both - we’re excited to have you with us!
#FutureArtsCentres #ArtsCentres #CreativeCommunities
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Brick exterior of Beach Creative, with a banner on a fence at the front reading 'beach creative community arts centre / galleries, studios, courses and workshops'.
We’re delighted to welcome two new members to the Future Arts Centres network ✨
🌟 Beach Creative CIC - a vibrant, community‑driven arts hub in #HerneBay, Kent, offering space, support and inspiration for artists, makers and local residents.
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A person (hidden) holding up a large piece of material with text reading 'Freedom isn't survival, freedom is fighting for what you believe. Freedom is singing...' (rest of text not visible). Photo: Leticia Valverdes with Trinity Community Arts
What does freedom look like across the UK today? We’re excited to share that a major photography exhibition marking the culmination of Our Freedom: Then and Now will open at the Southbank Centre this March: ourfreedom.org.uk/news/exhibit...
#OurFreedom #RememberOurFreedom #ThenAndNow
Looking for a new opportunity in the new year? Pocklington Arts Centre is seeking someone with proven leadership experience at a senior level in an arts organisation to be their new Venue Director.
If this could be you, find out more and apply here:
pocklingtonartscentre.co.uk/pocklington-...
Head shot of Elizabeth Woledge, a white woman with dark blonde hair and glasses. She is wearing a brown checked jacket and a black scarf, and is smiling for the camera.
Future Arts Centres is pleased to welcome Elizabeth Woledge as the new Director of @levelcentre.bsky.social.
Liz brings rich heritage-sector experience as LEVEL Centre continues to champion inclusive arts and support disabled artists.
🎉 Exciting times ahead - congratuations, Liz!
⏰ There's still time to join Future Arts Centres’ Most Significant Change (MSC) training programme for 2026.
✨ Available to both members and non-members, this is a chance to build practical evaluation skills, share learning, and strengthen impact across the arts and community sector 👇
Exterior of Beacon Arts Centre, on a sunny day with a clear blue sky.
Wide shot of the exterior of De La Warr Pavilion, showing its position on the seafront at Bexhill-on-Sea. The wide angle shows off an expansive blue sky above, dotted with white clouds.
Exterior of Pontio, lit up at dusk.
🎉 We're thrilled to welcome three new members to the #FutureArtsCentres network:
🌟 Beacon Arts Centre in Inverclyde
🌟 De La Warr Pavilion on England’s south coast
🌟 Pontio in Bangor, North Wales
Together, they strengthen our collective voice across the UK.
Delighted to have you on board! ✨
Great to see. We hope you all have a brilliant day!
#OurFreedom
A person, with a joyful look on their face and an arm in the air, taking part in activity at Cambridge Junction. Photo credit: Cambridge Junction
🌟 New for 2026: Future Arts Centres is launching a Most Significant Change (MSC) training programme, led by Annabel Turpin and Mark Robinson (@thinkingpractice.bsky.social).
Learn how to capture the real impact of your work.
👉 Details and sign-up: futureartscentres.org.uk/what-we-do/p...
Four members of the Future Arts Centres team (l-r: Sophia McKenna, Christine Lee, Gavin Barlow, Annabel Turpin) stand either side of the new tapestry panel.
🌟 Great to visit Leeds Central Library yesterday to see the new tapestry panel from their Threads of Freedom project, part of the national #OurFreedom programme.
Created with communities across Leeds, it now sits alongside the Leeds Tapestry.
📌 More events continue: www.ourfreedom.org.uk/events
Do you have at least 5 years' experience of senior and commercial management within a multi-functional venue, or comparable environment? Scala Worcester is looking for a collaborative, team-focused leader to be their new Deputy Chief Executive/Director of Operations. Interested? Find out more 👇
Our Freedom: Then and Now is delivered in partnership with @librariesconnected.bsky.social and Open Eye Gallery, supported using public funding by UK Government through @artscouncilengland.bsky.social.
#OurFreedom #RememberOurFreedom #ThenAndNow
🕊️ As Remembrance Day nears, arts centres & libraries across the UK are exploring freedom through creativity. Our Freedom: Then and Now is bringing venues together through a programme of art, performance, and storytelling.
🖇️ Read about some of the highlights so far (events continue through November)
'Arts centres, like universities, are places where new ideas and new ways of seeing the world are explored.'
Michael Eades, Head of Civic Engagement at Goldsmiths, University of London, in @artsprofessional.co.uk on the partnership with Future Arts Centres www.artsprofessional.co.uk/magazine/fea...
Future Arts Centres Co-Directors Gavin Barlow and Annabel Turpin. (Photo credit: Jonathan Keenan Photography)
📢 We’re delighted to share that Future Arts Centres has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with @goldsmithsuol.bsky.social - marking the start of a new partnership grounded in shared values of creativity, community, and civic engagement.
🔗 Learn more: futureartscentres.org.uk/future-arts-...
Dave Moutrey, chair of the panel on The Fundraising Landscape, stand at a microphone to introduce the topic and his three fellow panellists seated alongside him. An audience of FAC members gathered around circular tables in the Rich Mix Studio watches on.
A panel of seven people sitting in front of a projection screen showing images of several Future Arts Centres venues.
Ending October with reflections from our recent Members’ Meeting which tackled the capital challenge head-on. From urgent repairs to future-proofing, the message was clear: arts centres are civic infrastructure. Investing in them means investing in community: futureartscentres.org.uk/building-for...
Libraries Unlimited is taking part in 'Our Freedom: Then and Now'.
Artist Athena Jane Churchill invites people to explore the legacy of VE Day through workshops.
@artscouncilengland.bsky.social @dcmsgovuk.bsky.social @artscentres.bsky.social
www.librariesunlimited.org.uk/project/our-...
🎉 Huge congratulations to our member Bluecoat for winning the Innovation in Social Value award at Liverpool Chamber's Innovation in Business Awards 2025! This is a brilliant recognition of the vital role arts centres like Bluecoat play in driving social change and community impact. Well deserved! 👏
Young people taking part in a movement session. Photo credit: Bradford Arts Centre.
💡 Arts centres are delivering culture with purpose - supporting wellbeing, learning, and local regeneration.
Future Arts Centres’ latest Sector Insight Report shows a resilient, community-rooted sector ready to lead - with the right support.
📖 Read it here: futureartscentres.org.uk/new-sector-i...
An image of Cast, their logo, and text reading 'WE'RE HIRING Director of Cast'
Our Yorkshire member Cast is seeking an experienced and inspirational leader to take it into its next era by providing strategic, artistic, organisational and financial leadership. Interested? Find out more: www.castindoncaster.com/about/jobs-o...
Closing date: 9am, Mon 1 Dec 2025.
A group of FAC members and guests seated in a circle during a breakout session.
Future Arts Centres Co-Director Gavin Barlow with guests Dave Moutrey, Ian Stickland, and Zoe Crick-Tucker (other panel members out of shot) during the final session of the day. They are seated in front of a projection screen showing photos of several FAC member venues.
From fundraising realities to scoping future programmes, the day reminded us what’s possible when we come together. (3/3)
#FutureArtsCentres #ArtsInfrastructure #Collaboration
Groups of FAC members in breakout discussions around tables in the Rich Mix Studio.
Future Arts Centres Co-Directors Annabel Turpin and Gavin Barlow chair the second panel discussion with Tom Clarke (Theatres Trust), Ian Stickland (Charcoalblue), and Simon Erridge (Bennetts Associates).
We’re grateful to Zoe Crick-Tucker, Caroline McCormick, Tonya Nelson, Simon Erridge, Tom Clarke, Ian Stickland, and Dave Moutrey for their openness and expertise. And thanks to Oitij-Jo Kitchen for the delicious lunch! (2/3)
Sign on a stand pointing the way to the Future Arts Centres meeting at Rich Mix.
The meeting of Future Arts Centres members listens to the first panel discussion of Dave Moutrey in conversation with Zoe Crick-Tucker (Theatr Clwyd), Caroline McCormick (Achates), and Tonya Nelson (Arts Council England).
Last week’s Future Arts Centres Members’ Meeting at Rich Mix was full of insight, generosity, and shared ambition. Thank you to everyone who joined us - speakers, facilitators, members, and our brilliant hosts. (1/3)
A collage of images showing the Storyhouse team on stage accepting their Excellence in Inclusivity award, and posing with it later.
A hand holding up BEAM's Excellence in Sustainability award in front of their venue.
The BEAM team posing with their award.
Brilliant to see two Future Arts Centres members win at the #UKTheatreAwards! 👏
🏆 Storyhouse - Excellence in Inclusivity
🏆 BEAM - Excellence in Sustainability
And congrats to The Parent Agency, a Storyhouse and Scenario Two co-production, for Best Performance in a Musical 🎉
#FutureArtsCentres
Congratulations to Dr Hannah Phillips who has been appointed as the first CEO and Artistic Director of Future Arts Centres member @scalaworcester.bsky.social ahead of its opening in 2026.
We can't wait to see how Hannah's vision shapes this exciting new chapter for the cultural life of the city!
Exterior of Rich Mix in East London.
Members listening to a panel speaking on the fundraising landscape.
Great to be at Rich Mix in London today for our third and final Members' Meeting of 2025. Brilliant to have so many peers and specialists here as we consider the realities of maintaining our buildings and developing successful capital programmes.
For no other reason than I remembered not everyone in the world has read it, here's the book I wrote about creative resilience & creative communities, pub by @artscentres.bsky.social. Download for FREE or buy paperback to look cool on trains, in waiting rooms, in bed, etc tacticsforthetightrope.com
Find out more and book your tickets 👉 www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1605609514...
