Step inside Lincoln’s new culture centre

A new arts and culture centre will open its doors in Lincoln city centre this week.

The three-year Mansions of the Future project on St Mary’s Street opposite the train station will open on Friday, May 11.

The building will be open to the public from 11am to 5pm every Thursday to Saturday, although it can also be accessed on other days by contacting the venue on 01522 701283 or online here.

Entry is free to the building which also houses a pantry where local produce will be stocked to be used to cater for events and community lunches, as well as a kitchen, common room, and spaces for resources, reading, meetings and more.

‘Mansions of the Future’, on St Mary’s Street in the Cornhill Quarter opens on Friday, May 11. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

Artists can base themselves in studio rooms at the venue rent free, providing they give something back to the centre such as delivering workshops.

Project directors Thirteen Ways worked with Lincoln Cultural and Arts Partners, Lincoln Arts Trust, the University of Lincoln and OpenPlan to secure Arts Council England’s Ambition for Excellence funding in 2017.

The hub was also made possible thanks to building owners Lincolnshire Co-op.

Some of the team involved with the Mansions of the Future project. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

A launch event on Tuesday, May 8 welcomed special guests including CEO at Lincolnshire Co-op Ursula Lidbetter, Professor Mary Stuart, Vice Chancellor at the University of Lincoln, Thirteen Ways’ Rebecca Blackwood and Clare Cumberlidge, Chairman at Lincoln Arts Trust Phil Hamlyn Williams, Director for the Centre of Culture & Creativity Sukhy Johal and local theatre director Ben Poole.

2018 events highlights

• Bonnie Wright, best known for her role as Ginny Weasley in the Harry Potter Films, is showcasing the UK premiere of her short film, based on Medusa’s Ankles, at Sincil Salon in Lincoln on May 24 to 26 – click here to get a free ticket as booking is essential.
• Artist Kathrin Böhm will be based in the building posing the question ‘What culture do we want?”
• Visual artist Bridget Smith presents visionary statements from leading creatives
• Local, regional artists and creatives can work from studios at the centre and there will also be a call for volunteers wanting to take part.
• There will be various events, workshops, community group meetings and lunches this year, with more to come in 2019 including Steve Berkoff’s play ‘Ritual In Blood’, in collaboration with local theatre director Ben Poole.

Rebecca Blackwood said: “The whole project is for the communities of Lincoln so they’ll be able to participate in all sorts of programming, but they’ll also be able to make work with artists and to work alongside artists for three years.”