Future Arts Centres and Arup have joined forces to highlight the critical need to restore ageing cultural infrastructure and support creative communities across the UK. 

Future Arts Centres and Arup, the global sustainable development consultancy, have joined forces to publish a new report highlighting the growing and urgent need for capital investment in arts centres across the UK. Drawing on in-depth research involving 90 arts centres with a combined 9.4 million annual visitors, it provides critical intelligence to help inform the decisions of policy makers, funders, and the cultural sector in the UK.

Many arts centre buildings now face increasing maintenance challenges, with ageing infrastructure and growing financial pressures, making it harder for them to welcome communities to a safe and comfortable space and to operate at their full potential.

Over three quarters (78%) of those surveyed report being unable to complete planned work on their buildings, and more than 60% of venues have had no renovation or refurbishment within the last 10 years (including 25% where there have been no relevant works within recent memory).

“This report demonstrates that investment in arts centre buildings is not just about maintenance – it is about securing the long-term cultural sustainability of our communities and the spaces they gather in,” commented Annabel Turpin and Gavin Barlow, Co-Directors of Future Arts Centres.

“These buildings enable arts centres to create, support and nurture communities. We must act now to ensure they can continue to do so for generations to come.”

Key findings from the report highlight a range of immediate priorities:

• Addressing the maintenance backlog after many years of underinvestment
• Investment in energy efficiency – improving sustainability through upgrades to heating systems, insulation, and energy management
• Investment in digital technologies – offering significant efficiencies and driving changes in production design and delivery, and audience expectations
• Enhancing accessibility – including hearing accessibility and sensory-friendly spaces for audiences, and improved backstage access for performers

While arts centres remain ambitious and committed to delivering high-quality experiences for their communities, there is a clear need for ongoing investment to ensure their buildings remain fit for purpose.

“For the Arts and Culture sector, the built environment is a critically important enabler of their craft, and their connection with communities across the UK. As audience expectations evolve and environmental considerations become more pressing, arts centres will need to adapt, and the condition of their buildings will play a crucial role in their ability to do so,” added Tateo Nakajima, Arup Fellow Arts, Culture and Entertainment.

Arup and Future Arts Centres will continue to work together to build on this research and continue this critical conversation about the future of our cultural and social infrastructure.

You can read the full report here.