Projects - Shoreditch Town Hall
Driven by a personal passion for the potential of non-traditional spaces to inspire and engage audiences and creative artists alike, I led the transformation and complete overhaul of Shoreditch Town Hall, a Grade II 46,500 sq ft former civic space in East London. My work on Shoreditch Town Hall was both a heritage restoration and arts venue development project. The change initiated and delivered for both the building and organisation was comprehensive, including complete organisation redesign. I founded the in-house artistic programme, personally raising and investing £2.3m into the building and developing a robust business model not dependent on revenue funding that saw the charity’s turnover grow from £350k to £1.1m in just four years. A complete restructure introduced a new staff team, Chair and trustees and this was delivered simultaneously with new systems and operational procedures across all areas of the operation. This enabled the building to become fully licensed for public use for the first time since the 1960’s and establish a regular arts and expanded events programme. The growth of the commercial events business, as well as developing the food and beverage offer - bringing in the Michelin starred Clove Club restaurant as a tenant - formed the basis of a dynamic income model which first stabilised and then allowed for the further growth of the organisation. The project also included rebranding, relaunch and strategic advocacy - making the case for the venue as a new more dynamic proposition for audiences, the community, commercial clients, funders, key stakeholders and as part of local placemaking. Having once been very much below the radar, with limited offer and operating at very low capacity, the Town Hall today is today firmly established as a dynamic contemporary arts and events space on the London cultural map, attracting audiences of 30,000+ per annum to a distinctive cultural offer and with earned income funding 90% of the charity’s activity, including the arts and community programme.
“Nick’s tenure at Shoreditch Town Hall was literally transformative. His vision, passion and total dedication has moved this historic venue well and truly into the 21st century whilst enhancing the links with its historic past and the surrounding community. The breadth, diversity and quality of the artistic programme has allowed the venue to carve a distinctive place for itself in London, capacity hit record levels and average turnover almost trebled in just five years. Nick, and the team he recruited and mentored, have delivered more than any of us might have imagined in our wildest dreams.”
Stephen Robertson, former CEO, The Big Issue Foundation & Chair, Shoreditch Town Hall Trust
“Nick has achieved something truly remarkable at Shoreditch Town Hall. Starting from scratch, he has turned the building into a dynamic crucible of creativity. Never have I felt so free and so nurtured when creating work. He and his staff are energised and dedicated; they allow your imagination to flourish and give you the confidence to explore new territory. He has created an environment in which you can truly thrive and push the limits of your practice as an artist.”
Jamie Lloyd, Theatre Director
Interview with Louise Jury, Evening Standard: Big Drama in Small Spaces.
https://www.standard.co.uk/go/london/theatre/big-drama-in-small-spaces-8073099.html
Interview with Bojana Jankovic, Run Riot: How to Build a Destination Venue.