The Dukes welcomes Lancaster City Council’s new proposals for a Canal Quarter, the 16 acre redevelopment of land behind our current building.

This will see surface car parks, derelict buildings and heritage assets such as Mitchell’s Brewery re-thought into a multi-use development which will include an ‘Arts Hub’, a potential new home for the nationally awardwinning Dukes and other arts organisations.

“The Dukes was involved in the planning of the Arts Hub as part of the previous scheme. I am delighted that this work and the concept of a significantly improved arts and culture offer for residents and visitors will be central to the Canal Quarter “ said Ivan Wadeson, Chief Executive.

Lancaster City Council has said: “Commitment to an Arts Hub, comparable with any in the North West, is undiminished. Lancaster is rightly proud of its arts and cultural heritage and the city council wants to help existing and new providers develop and flourish.”

The new Arts Hub will be an unrivalled arts and entertainment offer, a magnet for audiences from across the region and beyond, with a national reputation. It will be an inspirational centre for learning and creativity, developing the skills and confidence of residents of the district, particularly young people.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDrSXnxiCx8

The Dukes attracts more than 140,000 visitor per annum currently to our programme of theatre, film and creative learning in our current building, a converted 1796 church. We run programmes for young people in and out of education and with vulnerable adults.

However our current building has poor access, inadequate space for the public, participants and performers and is inadequate for our ambitions to increase our programme of work to the benefit of residents and visitors.

Read more about the Canal Quarter here: https://www.lancaster.gov.uk/news/2018/mar/canal-corridor