Creating community at Bordon Cultural Hub

Karen Neville

Activities & Events, Alton, Community & Charity, Fleet, Hampshire, Petersfield & Villages, Round and About

Have your say on the proposed new cultural hub for Whitehill & Bordon, a space to celebrate the history of the town and the surrounding area

Phoenix Arts has long been celebrated as a vibrant grassroots organisation, nurturing local talent and fostering a strong sense of community through the performing arts.

Its current 100-seater venue provides a platform for emerging artists and experienced performers alike, covering all disciplines from comedy to dance, music, theatre, musicals, disability arts and much, much more.

In response to the growing demand for diverse and innovative performances, Phoenix Arts wants to establish a larger, more versatile venue in the new town centre.

The proposed Cultural Hub, an initiative from Phoenix Arts, Whitehill & Bordon Regeneration Company and Prince Phillip Park, will combine arts, entertainment, leisure and workspace. A new 250-seat theatre will be a key part of the plans, with the plot of the former Sergeants Mess acting as the focus for cultural activity in the town centre. The vision is one of bold, engaging design and architecture, while being sensitive to the historic fabric of the Mess Hall.

The new Cultural Hub will feature restaurants, entertainment and leisure spaces, additional retail and workspace studios, all grouped around a communal courtyard featuring a flexible seating area that can be used for outdoor events. This multi-purpose creative space aims to nurture local creatives, entrepreneurs and residents and moves towards completing the vision for Whitehill & Bordon as a desirable and unique destination.

Events at The Phoenix Theatre & Arts Centre have shown how the arts can bring people together, inspire creativity and enrich the cultural fabric of Whitehill & Bordon. This new space will open up more opportunities to cement arts and culture in East Hampshire’s largest town.

Rob Allertson, CEO of Phoenix Arts said: “From our inception in the 1980s as a community-led arts centre, and the coming together of the army and community of Whitehill & Bordon to provide affordable entertainment locally, through to the securing of Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation (NPO) funding in 2022, we’ve been on a long-term mission to encourage greater engagement with the arts.

“The next chapter in this story is about to unfold and being central to the success of the new Cultural Hub is exciting and is acknowledged by our trustees, staff and volunteers as a brilliant development of our ethos and vision for creating community.”

Plans are on display in The Cube at The Shed. To give feedback on the proposals, scan the QR code on the display for access to a survey to have your say on the future of the arts, culture and entertainment in Whitehill & Bordon.

Have your say on the proposed new cultural hub for Whitehill & Bordon, a space to celebrate the history of the town and the surrounding area

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