Cultural centre part of 'broken dreams' exhibition

The Phoenix Cultural Centre CIC in Woking has been used as an example of the "broken dream" of community projects

A Surrey cultural centre facing closure next year has featured in a Parliament exhibition on the "broken dreams" of community projects.

The Phoenix Cultural Centre and Fiery Bird venue in Goldsworth Road, Woking, has provided cultural training and a gig space since 2010 but is due to shut in January 2026 citing rising costs and building issues.

The centre is being used as an example of a project which "could have transformed lives but never reached their potential" in an exhibition called the Museum of Broken Dreams, running until Thursday.

Exhibition organisers are supporting new devolution legislation which they say will empower local communities to support community projects.

Elaine McGuinty, the Phoenix Centre's founder, said: "The stories that feature in the Museum of Broken Dreams represent a real chance for the government to learn about the challenges community projects have to deal with.

"It's an opportunity for similar ideas to be picked up and go on in an even bigger and better way."

Elaine McGuinty, founder of the Phoenix Centre, at the exhibition in Parliament

The Phoenix Centre will close next year as a result of major funding losses and short-building leases, it says, having also faced 11 break-ins to its site.

Organisers are now fundraising to try and keep the centre open until its current planned closing date, saying without more funding it will need to close even earlier.

The exhibition coincides with the second reading of the English Devolution and Community Empowerment bill, which includes measures to introduce more powers for communities to purchase valuable sites and reform commercial leases.

Rich Bell, campaign director for exhibition organisers We're Right Here, said the bill was a "once in a generation opportunity to put community voice at the heart of the devolution agenda".

The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government has been approached for comment.