Arts hub to become more accessible and sustainable

The Colonnade Building is to get a makeover to become more accessible and greener

An art gallery and studio space is set to be transformed with around £500,000 in grants to make it more accessible and sustainable.

The proposed upgrade of the Colonnade Building, in Worthing, West Sussex, is due to start in mid-2025 and be finished by the following spring.

It will include repairs to the roof, a new accessible entrance, solar panels, triple glazing and heat pumps.

Karen Simporis, chair of the Adur & Worthing Trust, which manages the centre alongside Worthing Borough Council, said the "substantial capital grant" will secure the building's future as "the cultural hub of Worthing”.

Built in the early 1800s as a library and post office, the Colonnade became a creative hub in 2014 after a successful bid to the coastal communities fund.

It features two gallery spaces and 10 studios, all of which are at capacity.

Weaver and textile designer Lucy Rowan is based in the Colonnade Building

The project has received more than £460,000 in funding from Arts Council England, with Worthing Borough Council contributing a further £40,000.

Rita Garner, the council's cabinet member for culture and leisure, said: “This funding will allow us to make some important changes to improve accessibility and ensure the historic building has a sustainable future."

Illustrator and author John Bond at work in the centre

Hazel Edwards, regional director for Arts Council England, said: “By enhancing the infrastructure of cultural spaces across the region we are expanding access to arts, culture, and creative pursuits.

"We are also supporting cultural organisations in becoming more inclusive, reducing their carbon footprint, and enhancing their digital capabilities."

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