Southampton City Council today unveiled plans for a new art complex set to launch in 2015. The ‘Cultural Quarter’ is set to rejuvenate the city with new auditoriums, an art gallery and the Sea City project.
This scheme has been described as the “backdrop for what we want to do within the city” by project team leader Jill Low whose been working on the project for the past four years.
“There’s already a lot going on here, like the Mayflower, and these are all key parts of the jigsaw.” The complex is set to be an informal space spread out around Guildhall Square that everyone can enjoy. Project consultant Jill explained: “Whether it’s to have a coffee, watch a film, be part of something creative, it will be a buzzing centre of activity”.
Ben White, Communications Director at Southampton City Council explained how key this quarter will be to the area. “We want to attract tourists absolutely, but we want to make it something for the people of Southampton to enjoy as well.”
Local businesses and residents have warmly received this development, with the Midsummers Dream display in the Square this summer attracting 7,000 visitors to Guildhall Square. “We’re trying to bridge the gap between when shops shut and the bars for young people open, creating a safe place for families to go to and enjoy,” stated Jill Low.
Jill Low also stated how the regeneration will be positive for the local economy, providing “not just shopping, a reason to live here, creating a lot more jobs in the area, it’ll become an essential part of the city.” With a predicted 2000 extra jobs this will create, this project can only be beneficial for Southampton .
The Sea City project is one of the major visitor attractions set to launch next year to commemorate the anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic. It will tell the 2,000 year history of Southampton as “a gateway to the sea and Europe”, Jill Low explained. This will go hand in hand with the City Art Gallery in providing space for new collections and collaborations with the John Hansard Gallery.
Developing the quarter hasn’t been without it’s problems, project managers having spent the last two years trying to convince those funding the idea to maintain their support. Jill Low revealed the almost failure of the project after 14 years of bumpy progress, - “It was the sheer tenacity, the conviction that it is what would have to happen to make it work.” With the council providing over £2 million pounds to the project, Ben White is adamant for this to be a success. “This has to be a commercial success for the area, the council cannot afford to be providing funds further into the project.”
With the amount of planning, research and expertise put into this complex it does seem likely for success. Project manager Jill Low has a history of experience in the arts, working for the Attic Theatre, the Guntree and youth festivals over the country to provide her with the passion for the subject - “It’s something I’m very committed to,” Jill Low explained. When working on the new Art Gallery, the designers were keen to look at other galleries across the country, Hereford and Nottingham for example to ensure they knew the key to a successful art gallery.
The art gallery is set to be the main attraction, with resident artists decorating the space as they see fit, with open windows “to attract passers-by into the gallery”. The space will encourage community arts projects such as City Eye to be able to set up, film and show their work here, which will in turn bring students into the complex to be a part of the projects. “This will build on what is already going on” Jill Low revealed.
The complex will also feature two auditoriums, a 445 seater main auditorium that will be multi-functional for music, theatre, and poetry, as well as a smaller room available for rehearsals, smaller gigs and more intimate requirements. The building will also have sliding doors between function rooms and cafes, to encourage the “hive of activity” vibe Jill Low is aiming to achieve.
Although plans for the launch have yet to be finalised, Jill Low has revealed it will be a “big and creative” event, set to thrill.
