Artsdepot 4.19

The 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.ActivitiesThe venue comprises 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 also runs a programme of an educational courses for children and adults. Outreach programmes also include working with local schools, artistic companies, other venues, and festivals.HistoryThe artsdepot was initially conceived in 1996 at the Barnet 2000 conference, 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 a need for more professional arts facilities to supplement the facilities at the existing Bull Arts Centre in High Barnet, which was at that time the only professional, if small, arts centre in the borough.Barnet Council officers worked on the feasibility of using the Tally Ho site and brought together partners including Old Bull Arts Centre, Barnet College and Community Focus. After a capital lottery bid failed, The London Borough of Barnet sought a commercial developer to work with. They also contracted ACT theatre consultants to design the theatre spaces. The developers contracted architects Ruddle Wilkinson. The design was a result of close working with the main partners and the artistic vision was developed largely by The Bull Arts Centre’s director, Alison Duthie. The developers Taylor Woodrow then developed plans for the Tally Ho regeneration in which artsdepot is located. The people of North London gained a state-of-the-art arts centre with most of the construction costs coming from the commercial development. 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 1980 (and later demolished in 1987).