Premises Ready
Creative United is working with the Greater London Authority (GLA) to devise and deliver a business programme which supports people and organisations to open cultural venues within London.
For anyone in the cultural sector looking to start a venue, our three-part Premises Ready Training programme launched with a free symposium on 14 November 2018.
The programme has offered advice from industry insiders and experts from arts centres, cinemas, music and dance venues providing knowledge and insights to help creative businesses open a venue.
Participants could be from any background, for example, a live music promoter who is ready to take on their own venue, a touring theatre company wanting a permanent space or a dancer who wants to make the leap to running their own performance studio, the only criteria was that the venue offered a live, cultural experience and is open to the public.
The programme is in 3 parts:
- The Premises Ready Symposium on 14 November 2018
At the free symposium, a panel of industry professionals discussed the challenges of securing your premises and shared tips to make the journey that much smoother. - Premises Ready 2-Day Workshop, 5 and 6 December 2018
An expert-led workshop on 5 and 6 December 2018 at Camden’s Roundhouse where participants learned about business planning, accessing finance, licensing, rates and marketing. - Free 1:1 business advice in 2019
Five businesses are receiving free one-to-one advice from an industry specialist to really boost them towards getting the keys to their own building (see below for more information).
Please click here to find out more about our free 1:1 business advice
The 1:1 advice
Following the Symposium in November and the Workshops in December, applicants were invited to apply for free 1:1 advice.
We have provided five individuals or businesses with 4 hours of expert business advice from a sector specialist. This is an opportunity to work in depth on a business plan, cashflow forecasts, finance options or long-term strategy which will set participants up to progress towards getting the keys to their own venue.
As places were limited, they were decided upon an indication of business support need and potential impact to the business from support – e.g. will 1:1 support enable significant progress towards leasing or purchasing a cultural venue?
Who will benefit from the advice?
- People planning to operate a public-facing cultural venue such as a music venue, theatre, comedy club or other forms of performance and art presentation
- You may already have a building in mind, or know where you want to be based
- You haven’t leased or bought a venue before
Who can’t be supported?
- People who are looking to open a creative workspace, restaurant or rehearsal studio – i.e. a building that won’t offer public-facing cultural performances
Who will be providing the 1:1 advice?
Creative United have matched participants with one of our team of industry specialists based on needs and ambitions.
The following business advisors will be providing the 1:1 advice
Creative United will match participants with one of our team of industry specialists based on needs and ambitions: