Arts Centre
In 1949 Bracknell became a new town. In 1969 Bracknell Development Corporation started looking into proposals for an arts centre. South Hill Park was one of the sites under consideration for the arts centre. Bracknell Development Corporation selected South Hill Park in 1970.
1970's
Peter Stark was appointed its first director in the autumn of 1972. A 125-year lease was then granted to South Hill Park Trust who converted the house into an arts centre.
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As the building has three floors and close to 60 rooms, conversion was a complicated process. It was divided into two phases. Phase 1 was making the building fit for public use and Phase 2 involved converting the ‘safe shell’ into a functioning centre.
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It opened in October 1973 with a range of courses and activities whilst conversion work continued. The terrace bar opened in June 1974. This was despite dry rot, the national energy crisis and the three-day week all causing delays to the project. By the beginning of 1975 all the general facilities were open.
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The vision for South Hill Park was a powerful one, and is still relevant and resonant today.
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‘…no doubt it [South Hill Park Arts Centre] will look as if it were meant to fit - it’s that kind of building. Building and grounds preserved and enhanced, could provide a peaceful place for creative activity.
It will be for artistic eccentrics who want to make or do things which perhaps make sense only to themselves. Any activity which is constructive, is within the law of the land, and can be linked with the arts in the broadest sense, is welcome.
The arts centre is an integral part of Bracknell's way of life. It is hardly expected that the arts centre will show a profit. That is not the intention. It is intended that as many people as possible get as much pleasure and artistic satisfaction as possible from the new centre of creativity. Painting, singing and dancing; history, archeology, anthropology; ancient or modern, noisy or colourful - noisy and colourful - massive or microcosmic, created by youth, enjoyed by the old, South Hill Park with its lovely setting of lake and lawn and woods can play host to all or any part of it’.
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Click the links below to explore some documents from the planning, development phase of the arts centre. Follow THIS LINK to see a BBC Rewind clip of Dick Wellstod talking about South Hill Park's launc Summer Season.
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SOUTH HILL PARK
CHRISTMAS CALENDAR 1973
SOUTH HILL PARK
FIRST PROGRAMME
SOUTH HILL PARK
CONSULTATION
SOUTH HILL PARK
ARTS CENTRE PROPOSAL
2022
The Art Centre now provides a very beautiful and impressive place to keep the magic of the arts alive. There are over 250 workshops and courses for people to indulge in. These include ballet, tap dance, printmaking, ceramics, acrylic & oil painting, piano, singing and quilt making, plus more.
The centre hosts a range of galleries that display the incredible works of a variety of different artists, as well as the artwork titled, "Ghost" that is able to be viewed from the Tall Hall and the Studio Theatre balcony. This artwork is based on some of the many spooky stories that can be heard from some of our staff.
