Battersea Arts Centre (BAC), one of the UK’s most iconic cultural centres, is launching an exciting season of free, inspirational sessions as part of the Scratch Hub - a unique coworking space situated in the heart of the centre’s historic building. Battersea Arts Centre has a global reputation for innovative creativity, and the new events season brings this ethos into the enterprise sphere, with sessions exploring how creativity can be applied to social change, business and building communities.
Scratch Hub Socials features trail-blazing and inspirational voices from a cross-sector of settings, such as well-known political performer, presenter and author Mark Thomas, co-founder and CEO of 64 Million Artists Jo Hunter, author and academic Kate Beswick, and Scratch Hub member and creative director of arts company Writerz n Scribez Jemilea Wisdom-Baako. These workshops, conversations and networking events will bring people together to discuss the impact of creativity in both business and social enterprise.
The Scratch Hub coworking space is designed to stimulate London’s vibrant and diverse community of creatives, entrepreneurs, social enterprises, freelancers and start-ups. It’s inspired by ‘Scratch’ - a process to test and develop new ideas with members of the public - which originated as a theatre making process at Battersea Arts Centre in 2000 and has since been adopted across many disciplines world-wide.
Tarek Iskander, Artistic Director and CEO of Battersea Arts Centre said, Creative risk taking is at the heart of everything Battersea Arts Centre has done for over 40 years. Thinking creatively, coming up with new ways of working, making connections and provocations - these things are all just as vital for businesses and social enterprises as they are for artists. The Scratch Hub and the new events programme continue to underline our commitment to supporting the creativity of all our communities.
Liz Moreton, Director of Creativity and Social Change at Battersea Arts Centre said, We are hugely excited to announce our new programme of events for businesses on National Coworking Day. It’s been so inspiring to see our Scratch Hub members support each other and make real change in their communities – these events will be a great opportunity for both members and non-members to develop further and share their incredible skills.
Jemilea Wisdom-Baako, Scratch Hub member and creator of Writerz n Scribez said, Access to the Scratch Hub came at such a crucial point in my journey as a social entrepreneur. I had recently quit my job to run the business full time and was in desperate need of workspace and community. Being based at BAC has given us stability, access to amazing workshops, ability to test our ideas and connect us with creatives that are willing to share their knowledge. I feel privileged to be part of this community.
Designed by architects Haworth Tompkins, with interior design and fit-out by Jeannine Inglis Hall and Gary Campbell, the Scratch Hub has different spaces designed to foster different styles of working, incorporating areas for collaborating, for working more quietly and for socialising.
The interior design has striven to be ethical with the use of sustainable materials being central to the process. Antique furniture has been restored especially for the space, with individual pieces renovated and reimagined, lockers salvaged from schools and Art Deco French screen doors repurposed to create booths. Bespoke, handmade wallpaper by artist Nicholas Hughes draws on the rich heritage of Battersea Arts Centre and its Victorian Town Hall building.
The Scratch Hub community includes 20 ‘Springboarders’, who receive free membership funded by Battersea Power Station Foundation while they build their ideas and networks. These members are selected for what they are achieving, the potential they have and the social impact they are making. They include local young entrepreneurs who have graduated from The Agency, Battersea Arts Centre’s national programme for young people from housing estates across the UK. This targeted support will make a huge difference to them over their first crucial year when so many start-ups fail.
A total of 150 memberships are available on a flexible or full-time basis. Memberships begin at £140 per month for 60 hours of flexible hot-desking and go up to £290 per month for a full-time, fixed desk space.
Scratch Hub, Battersea Arts Centre, Lavender Hill, London SW11 5TN Events: July – September 2019
Wednesday 3rd July, 7pm Creativity and Social Change
Wednesday 7th August, 7pm Creativity and Business
Wednesday 4th September, 7pm Creativity and Building Communities
Scratch Hub, Battersea Arts Centre, Lavender Hill, SW11 5TN
The events are free and can be booked online at www.bac.org.uk/scratchhub
The nearest train station is Clapham Junction. The nearest underground stations are Clapham Common (on the Northern line) and Stockwell (on the Victoria line). The 345 bus departs from both stations and stops outside the BAC.
@battersea_arts @bacscratchhub
The Scratch Hub has been created with a grant of £538,000 from the Mayor of London’s regeneration funds, with additional funding for its activity programme from Battersea Power Station Foundation.
