Gardner Arts Centre

• Theatre ID
  3080
• Built / Converted
  1969
• Dates of use
  • 1969: continuing
• Current state
  Extant
• Current use
  dark (arts centre closed 2007)
• Address
  University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 9RA, England

Details

The Gardner Arts Centre was created as part of the then new University of Sussex, but is now run as an independent entity. The University still owns the building and provides subsidy. Situated in parkland on the attractive campus, the brick built design is based on a series of concentric circles, elegant from the exterior rather than exciting. The whole centre was originally conceived to demonstrate the essential unity of all the arts, and as a highly adaptable space, usable for performances, painting and sculpture, and with moveable seating and a variety of different size spaces which were intended to be capable of use as stages. In practice the flexibility proved illusory, and the auditorium was fundamentally flawed. An ungainly fan of banks of single tiered seating has been fitted into the large central circular space, bounded between walls finished in light colour wood, and a range of dark metal side galleries. The open stage, effectively confined to a wide proscenium format, now has an extensive forestage built out, and the setting area (11m x 13.5m) is provided with 9 hemp sets. The Gardner Centre is the area's main arts centre and has good parking for visitors. It remains remarkably unaltered, although in need of some attention.

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• Events
  • 1969 Use: continuing
  • 1969 - 0 Design/Construction: arts centre constructed on new university campus.
    • Sir Basil Spence, Bonnington & Collins - Architect
    • Sean Kenny - Consultant
  • Owner/Management: Gardner Arts Centre Limited, managers
• Capacities
  • Current: 482
• Listings
  • Grade II*
• Stage type
  • Flat
• Dimensions
  • Stage dimensions: Depth: 11m x 13.5m