Community Arts Centre users to discuss future venues
Stevenage Borough Council is fully committed to working with groups who use the Stevenage Community Arts Centre to find alternative locations amid changes to the council’s lease of the building which will take effect from summer 2027.
The council has leased the site at the Roaring Meg retail park since 2002 but has now been advised by the landlord that the lease will end next summer.
The venue is run day to day by the Stevenage Arts Guild. As part of this change, the landlord has offered a contribution to Stevenage Borough Council to assist in improving facilities that the groups may use in the future.
Discussions are now to open between the organisation and the groups that use the building and the council to find alternative venues to support the excellent contribution culture makes to Stevenage and the value it holds to lives and wellbeing of those who participate in it.
Cllr Myla Arceno, Cabinet member for Culture, Leisure and Wellbeing said: “Culture forms a key part of what makes Stevenage a positive place to live and thrive. This is why our council is fully committed to working with the Stevenage Arts Guild and all the groups using the Community Arts Centre to source alternative locations which meet the needs of all those who use the current centre before our lease ends.”
Hilary Spiers, chair of Stevenage Arts Guild said: “For many years members of the Guild and other local groups have enjoyed using the Community Arts Centre. It has been our home and has been a central hub for us to meet and promote the arts within the community. Stevenage is celebrating its 80th anniversary as a New Town this year and many of our groups were founded in its early years and helped people make new friends when they first arrived. We know the council appreciates our contribution to the life of the town and hope it will help us find new premises so we can continue to enrich the lives of the people of Stevenage.”