Arts Centre given financial boost it needs to realise re-development ambition

A Paddington-based charity has been granted funding to expand its facilities to include a new dance studio and co-working space.

Westminster City council has approved £2.719 million in match funding to Paddington Arts, in Woodfield Road, to deliver the additional spaces, which it is hoped will secure the future of the charity.

Steve Shaw, the director of Paddington Arts, said the decision will ‘provide much needed facilities and creative activities for our young people and for the community’.

Paddington Arts, founded in 1988, offers workshops and activities to young people aged from six to 16-plus. It also provides careers advice and guidance for older users, connecting with people in fields from choreographers to costume and theatre designers.

The planned extension, which has already received planning permission, will deliver an additional 545 metres squared of space to be put towards facilities including a new dance studio, roof terrace, and an additional second floor and a dedicated co-working space targeted at creative entrepreneurs.

Of the £2.719m total, £1.469m has previously been granted by the council. The remaining £1.25m was approved at a cabinet meeting on Monday night.

Paddington Arts has also raised £830,000 from external funders subject to the full costs being secured. A range of benefits are envisaged as a result of the extension, including engaging 50 per cent more young people each year and expanding capacity for programmes such as one-to-one mentoring.

Cllr Cara Sanquest, cabinet member for communities, said: “Paddington Arts is a vital community organisation, and this match funding by the council will enhance Paddington Arts’ ability to generate income, provide high-quality cultural and creative services, and contribute to the inclusive regeneration of North Paddington.”

Cllr Nafsika Butler-Thalassis, deputy leader and cabinet member for adult social care and public health, said: “I think it’s a fantastic investment for our young people in the future and also for the voluntary sector in the area who will all benefit from this investment.”

Mr Shaw said: “Paddington Arts has been working with children and young people in our community for over 35 years. Our children face lots of challenges, but our work and mission is to support them, and help them achieve their potential.

“We use the arts to boost their self-confidence, allow them to express themselves, and put on shows for their families, friends and communities.

“Paddington Arts lost all public funding in 2015. Since then, we have been exploring the best way to ensure the future of the organisation and the future of the building, which is owned by the Paddington Arts Trust on behalf of the community.

“We came up with a scheme to build an extension to our building, to include a café, rehearsal studio, creative workspace, and a roof garden. We are delighted that the council has agreed to provide us with the necessary funding to complete our extension.”

The charity’s location means it falls under the North Paddington Programme, a council scheme involving a series of projects designed to improve the lives of those based in the ‘disadvantaged’ parts of Westminster.

A senior council officer is to join the charity’s board, with the redevelopment expected to be finished within three years. Mr Shaw said it is hoped it will be open by June 2026.

Pictured top: Paddington Arts Centre (Picture: LDRS)