Building for the Future: Stanley Arts Announces Transformative Capital Development Project
Image credit: Rebecca Pitt
Stanley Arts is delighted to announce that we have been awarded significant initial investment from four major funders for a programme of vital conservation and capital development works. Supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF), Architectural Heritage Fund (AHF) and the Pilgrim Trust, these works are set to herald a new era for our beloved space and mark the beginning of a transformative multi-year regeneration project which will culminate in the celebration of founder William Stanley’s 200th birthday in 2029.
Located in South Norwood, the Grade II listed Stanley Halls has been a hub of South London’s cultural life for more than a century. The first stone was laid on the foundations of Stanley Halls – what was to become Stanley Arts – in May 1902. Well over a century later we continue to honour William Stanley’s motto for our building to be a space of ‘Justice, Liberty & Science’, providing our south London community with a vital home for cultural representation, expression and discovery.
The first two phases of our capital development programme were completed in 2025 with funding partners for these stages including the Mayor of London, NLHF, Historic England and AHF. The recent funding awards now allow Stanley Arts to develop plans and fundraise for a multi-million pound project to conserve, renovate and reimagine our historic home. Set to run into 2029, the project will be undertaken alongside renowned architectural firm AOC whose clients include English Heritage, Young V&A and the National Archives. The programme will include conservation works, environmental upgrades and improvements to building accessibility, all of which will remain true to the noble ideals of William Stanley’s original vision while maintaining the charm and period features of the current building.
Stanley Arts is currently consulting with AOC in the development stage of the proposed works. By the project’s completion we foresee that this South London landmark will have undergone extensive restoration which will allow us to celebrate our heritage, champion radical inclusion and amplify diverse voices even more effectively than we currently do.
Our vision is to revitalise the cherished, Grade II-listed Stanley Arts centre by improving accessibility, comfort, and security. At the heart of our plans is:
- A renewed public entrance and double-height welcome space and Café bar
- A new gate that activates the Yard for outdoor events
- Fully step-free front-of-house access
- Increased overall venue capacity
- Heritage-sensitive services upgrade to achieve a 2030 operational net-zero target
- Create building connectivity and access between our north and south wings
Public consultation and co-creation are at the heart of the Stanley Arts mission. As we commence this public support campaign, we encourage people who have Stanley Arts close to their hearts to get involved via a variety of methods.
In order to lay the groundwork for the project delivery stage to take flight in the new year we are opening up the floor to all with an interest in Stanley Arts – from first-timers to longtime Stanley fans, artists to architecture buffs, young and old and all in between. Beginning with free guided tours and a discussion forum led by AOC on Sunday 13 September as part of the 2026 Open House Festival, the final months of 2026 usher in a new stage of public consultations, events, workshops and online forums which will lay the foundations for us to get going with the project in earnest in the new year.
Attend the consultations to get a sense of our plans and contribute your thoughts on the proposed works. Alternatively, show your support for Stanley Arts by stopping by the building, connecting with us online, donating to our fundraising campaign or volunteering your time and skills. Most excitingly, those who fill out the public consultation survey before the end of October will be entered into a draw to win two tickets to a Stanley Arts show of your choosing.
Whatever you do, don’t miss the opportunity to help us build an exciting new era for Stanley Arts.
Key dates for Autumn
Last Wednesday of the month: free building tours
https://stanleyarts.org/series/the-stanley-arts-historic-tour/
Fill out the public consultation survey for the chance to win two tickets to a Stanley Arts show of your choosing
https://forms.gle/4CTW1Xjdcf3wPuc99
About AOC Architecture
Agents Of Change / AOC is a practice of architects and designers led by Tom Coward, Gill Lambert and Geoff Shearcroft. Established in 2005 and based in East London, the practice is best known for its public buildings, cultural institutions, performing arts venues and learning spaces.
AOC engages with culture and communities to create buildings, places and experiences. They have particular expertise in co-creating new briefs and hybrid designs to meet contemporary challenges in sensitive contexts.
Completed projects include Young V&A, the transformation of the former Museum of Childhood in Bethnal Green; Locomotion New Hall, a new open access collections building for National Railway Museum, County Durham; the School Green Centre, a community and cultural centre in Shinfield, Berkshire; Nunhead Green, an award-winning, mixed-use development in south London; and Somerset House Studios and Exchange, a contemporary art centre and shared workspace in a Grade I listed building.
Current projects include the transformation of The National Archives’ brutalist icon in Kew; the redevelopment and extension of Paignton Picture House, one of Europe’s earliest surviving purpose-built cinemas; the Priory Centre, a creative retrofit and extension of a late 20th-century cultural centre to create an enhanced performing arts centre in St Neots, Cambridgeshire; a new learning centre at Stonehenge in the UNESCO World Heritage Site; and Venue Cymru, the colocation of a public library with a 1,500 seat theatre in Llandudno.
AOC have built a reputation for the quality of their designs, winning Design Museum Designs of the Year, RIBA, CIBSE Building Performance and New London awards. The practice’s work has been internationally published and exhibited, including the British School at Rome, Royal Academy, V&A and Venice Biennale.
About The National Lottery Heritage Fund
Our vision is for heritage to be valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future. That’s why as the largest funder for the UK’s heritage we are dedicated to supporting projects that connect people and communities to heritage, as set out in our strategic plan, Heritage 2033. Heritage can be anything from the past that people value and want to pass on to future generations. We believe in the power of heritage to ignite the imagination, offer joy and inspiration, and to build pride in place and connection to the past. Over the next 10 years, we aim to invest £3.6billion raised for good causes by National Lottery players to make a decisive difference for people, places and communities.
Please follow and tag @HeritageFundUK on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube and use the hashtags #HeritageFund #NationalLottery
About the Architectural Heritage Fund
The Architectural Heritage Fund (AHF) is a registered charity, working since 1976 to promote the conservation and sustainable re-use of historic buildings for the benefit of communities across the UK, particularly in economically disadvantaged areas.
The AHF exists to help communities find enterprising ways to revitalise the old buildings they love. The AHF helps them with advice, grants and loans, and the AHF’s support acts as a catalyst for putting sustainable heritage at the heart of vibrant local economies. For over 40 years, the AHF has been the leading social investor in creating new futures for historic buildings.
About the Pilgrim Trust
The Pilgrim Trust is a UK wide independent grant-making charitable trust. It gives approximately £3 million in grants per year to charities and other public bodies. The Pilgrim Trust believes that the wellbeing of the nation is enhanced both by its cultural heritage and by social initiatives that support people experiencing disadvantage. We support organisations that share our commitment to delivering positive and lasting change.
