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Streatham Space Project should be a Community Asset

We have prepared an application to Lambeth for recognising SSP as an Asset of Community Value (ACV).

“Communities can ask the council to list certain assets as being of value to the community.

“If an asset is listed and then comes up for sale, the new right will give communities that want it six months to put together a bid to buy it. This gives communities an increased chance to save local facilities of community value.

“The legislation does not give a right to buy the property in question – but it does give potential bidders the time to put a proposal together.”

Streatham Action, as our local neighbourhood forum recognised by Lambeth, has submitted the application. You can see the application in our Library.

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Lambeth working to find new tenants for SSP

Lambeth council said it is working with the owners of the Streatham Space Project building to find new tenants to ensure the venue will “continue buzzing with creative energy”.

A spokesman said: “The council’s absolute priority is safeguarding this venue and enabling it to flourish for the benefit of the entire Streatham community. This is why we have given the SSP an exceptional level of assistance and financial support over several years.”  

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LibDems furious over the collapse of the Streatham Space Project

Local LibDem councillors issued a press release about the closure of the Streatham Space Project.

Cllr Donna Harris said: “Just because the current stakeholder has failed, the venue should not close – lessons must be learned.

“This venue was funded by developers for the community, and it should remain that way, not be sold off for profit. The SSP must not be lost; we need a community asset like this in the south of the borough.”

See the online press coverage:

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Theatres Trust offers support

The Theatres Trust, the the national advisory public body for theatres and a statutory consultee on theatres in the planning system, has been in touch to offer support:

“It’s incredibly sad to hear that Streatham Space Project is to close.

“We’d be happy to support any new group that may come forward.

“We’re trying to speak with the culture team at Lambeth to see what help they may be able to provide.”

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Calling Streatham’s Arts Community

The trustees of Streatham Space Project (SSP) are closing the venue and ceasing activities from the end of March 2025.

After announcing in September 2024 that they were facing financial difficulties, they have not been able to find a sustainable model for the venue.

Our local community needs to come together to ensure that Streatham doesn’t lose this facility, which could be of great benefit if a suitable operating model can be found.

Help to reopen Streatham’s only dedicated arts space.

In Streatham, there is a wide range of creative activity by individuals and organisations, many of whom have been frustrated in their efforts to use the space.

 The aim is to build a community of those who are interested in and involved in the arts in and around Streatham & South London to get this valued theatre and community amenity open again, and thriving

The campaign is initially being organised by Jane Wroe Wright and David Harvey. A steering group will be set up from volunteers signing up to the campaign.

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Trustees statement on closure of Streatham Space Project

The operators ThinkTank have announced that SSP is to close at the end of March 2025.

Streatham loses a key performing arts space with the closure of Streatham Space Project

“The trustees of Streatham Space Project (SSP) have made the decision to close the venue and to cease our activities from the end of March 2025.

After our announcement in September 2024 that we were facing financial difficulties, we took steps to streamline the organisation and reduce our overheads whilst pursuing other funding options and models of operation. Sadly, we have not been able to find a sustainable model for the venue and the Board feel that closing the venue now is the responsible thing to do.

Since we opened in 2018, Streatham Space Project is immensely proud to have programmed over 600 shows and events, welcomed over 40,000 visitors, and provided over 28,000 affordable tickets to events spanning different art forms and cultures.

Streatham Space Project has supported 984 emerging artists that have benefited from mentoring from the team and having their work programmed at the venue with subsidised rehearsal space. And thousands of local children and their families have benefited from the free-to-access Family Days, affordable children’s theatre and free theatre workshops. All of these have been in line with our charitable objectives to promote arts for the people of Streatham and the local area. We have also enjoyed hosting parties and marking key events for many locals.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has worked so hard to make Streatham Space Project such a vibrant hub for the community, the funders who helped make our activity possible, and our audiences from Streatham and beyond who supported our programmes. We’re so sorry not to be able to keep going.

The trustees think it is important to highlight the backdrop to our decision:

  • COVID-19 pandemic from which programmes and audiences have not recovered
  • Energy prices and other cost increases
  • The cost-of-living crisis impact on audience figures and community activity
  • The reduction of funding for the arts in London as part of the Arts Council England’s 2023-2026 Investment Programme.

As any person working in the arts can tell you, the increasingly difficult funding and financial climate is deeply worrying – it prevents vital stories from being told, important ideas from being explored, reduces creativity and joy to luxuries only accessible to those who can afford them and is impacting on the next generation of theatre-makers and arts practitioners.

Brian Harris

Chair of Trustees”