Brentford Arts Works

SAVE THE ARTS

We are raising funds to bring back to life the art center in Brentford

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Meet with us

Thursday, 12 September 2024 18:30 – 20:30 BST
Come and meet Brentford Arts Works for an evening filled with inspiration and community vibes for a shared vision of the Arts in Brentford!
The Musical Museum (Stop BF)The Musical Museum (Stop BF) Brentford TW8 0AX United Kingdom

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Join us

We’re seeking volunteers for multiple roles: marketing, design, legal support, fundraising and development, and programming to help curate a diverse lineup of artists and performers. Open to any assistance—eager to have you join our team!

Volunteer

  • New building, but no clarity

    The Council approved a new arts centre, set to begin construction in Spring 2025, raising concerns about the interim impact on local arts and community engagement.

  • My Reflections on Watermans Arts Centre: From Closure to New Beginnings

    I’m filled with nostalgia and cautious optimism. Watermans has been a cultural anchor in Brentford for decades, but recent years have been tough. The most hopeful aspect amidst all the challenges is the planned relocation to the old Police station on the Half Acre site.

  • The Canvas of Self: Women’s Journey Through Art

    The evolution of female artists reveals a shift from self-portraits as acts of defiance to diverse contemporary expressions challenging norms. Despite progress, women still represent only 29% in galleries and just 9.3% in auction sales, highlighting ongoing inequalities in the art world.

A POWERFUL COMMUNITY REACTION

When the Trustees (Hounslow Arts Trust) closed Watermans Arts Centre with very little notice, the local community was robbed of a hub for the arts as well as a place to enjoy a coffee or a meal by the river.
The Save Our Watermans campaign which galvanised the community has evolved since the closure of the centre and is now a working group called Brentford Arts Works.
We strongly believe that there is a need for a centre that can offer arts and leisure facilities in Brentford as well as a space for community groups of all kinds (babies, children, adults), a meeting place and a place to eat and enjoy a drink or a coffee. 
Brentford Arts Works is a group of people committed to the provision of arts in the London Borough of Hounslow. We represent the community, arts and business sectors and are here to advocate for preservation of Brentford’s rich heritage. We are committed to providing a creative and leisure space for everyone. The existing arts centre at 40 High Street Brentford is empty and could be left that way for many years. The Council has said, time and again, that there would always be arts provision and a community hub on the site, irrespective of whether or not and when the arts centre might be relocated but without saying when or where this will happen. 
Brentford Arts Works has received an overwhelming mandate from the public: over a thousand people signed the petition to save the centre.Brentford Arts Works have a fully costed business plan. We are waiting to submit our bid for using the building as soon as the Council makes good its promise to invite applications for Meanwhile Use of the building.