Ben Todd

Arcola Theatre is a much loved and respected Off-West End venue in the heart of Hackney. Through its wide variety of community arts programmes, extensive multi-cultural youth programmes, its inspiring and innovative management and its mission to become the world's first carbon neutral theatre, the theatre has become not only an asset to the artistic community but also an exemplar to which future theatres should aspire.

Ben Todd's current challenge is to create a new ultra-low carbon venue at Dalston Junction, less than a mile away from the current location. An exhibition by students from London Metropolitan University is providing future architectural options for the theatre and the wider redevelopment of Dalston Junction.  The whole development is to be completed by 2020, with phased openings over the next 10 years.

The new premises are to provide the facilities necessary to accommodate Arcola's diverse programme and partners and therefore generate sustainable revenues through serving a high volume of local, national and international users. The venue will comprise an enlarged main house at its core, alongside studios, the Arcola Energy sustainable technology incubator, enterprise and skills studios and ethical café/bar/restaurant facilities.  Through green building techniques and on-site renewable power generation, Future Arcola is set to be an ultra-low carbon venue.

The activities programme will expand and include community, learning and skills classes, and an Arcola Outdoors programme aimed at professional and high-calibre community works and health and sustainable living activities.

Ben said, "Arcola directors' aim is that Future Arcola will be for everyone. It will unite art, science, community and business to deliver practical and desirable approaches to sustainable living. The next step in the evolution of Arcola Theatre, it will build upon nearly 10 years of acclaimed operations and will put Hackney at the forefront of re-thinking society for the 21st Century''.

For more information please visit http://www.futurearcola.com/.