Piccadilly Circus: New creative hub to help West End 'remain relevant'
- Published
Arts ARKADE said the project would also revitalise urban space in central London
A new creative space aims to help the West End remain relevant for young people by giving them somewhere to "explore, learn and express themselves", project leaders said.
Arts ARKADE has partnered with The Crown Estate to launch the venture, showcasing established and emerging London artists.
The space near Piccadilly Circus, central London, will also run arts and sports programmes.
It is due to open on Thursday.
Private limited company Arts ARKADE has leased the space, which will be free to enter, from The Crown Estate, one of the largest landowners in the West End.
It aimed to create an "engaging environment for young people to explore, learn, and express themselves whilst revitalising urban space in central London", the company said.
Simon Harding-Roots, managing director of The Crown Estate's London portfolio, said: "Arts ARKADE is a great step in continuing to evolve the West End and ensuring it remains relevant, creating a new, safe and dynamic space for young people to connect, share ideas and grow together.
"Our work with Arts ARKADE demonstrates the opportunity that we have as a major landowner and place-creator to deliver new buildings and places that support London and its people to thrive."
Túndé ỌlátúnjI, Arts ARKADE's chief executive, said the opening at the site, which used to be a bank, was an "exciting moment".
The Crown Estate runs a £16bn property portfolio, external including Regent Street and St James's in London and Windsor Great Park.
It also manages the seabed and much of the coastline around England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The estate was established by an Act of Parliament, tasked with growing the value of the portfolio for the nation and returning all of its net profit to HM Treasury for the benefit of public spending.
It said this had totalled £3.2bn over the last 10 years.
Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, external, X, external and Instagram, external. Send your story ideas to hello.bbclondon@bbc.co.uk, external