Our transformation is complete

We're pleased to announce that our four-year long £25.5 million transformational redevelopment has been completed, and the countdown to our full reopening on 1 October 2021 has begun.

We temporarily closed our doors in 2017 as part of a radical transformation, the largest in our 47-year history.

Designed by Ellis Williams Architects, with Bond Bryan as delivery architect, and project managed by Turner and Townsend, despite the pandemic, the construction work by Willmott Dixon completed last week (w/c 21 June 2021). The arts complex has now been officially handed back to us to prepare for our fantastic opening season.

The result is an exciting, modern and accessible new space that combines refurbished and upgraded pre-existing spaces with new areas. These include a spacious and more welcoming foyer, three new cinemas (complete with high-end digital projection and sound), a repositioned Mead Gallery, and a new restaurant.

The project confirms Warwick Arts Centre as the region’s leading cultural centre, a place for unforgettable arts and entertainment experiences.

Commenting on the completion of the redevelopment our Director, Doreen Foster, said:

"This is a fantastic time for Warwick Arts Centre as we are now one step closer to welcoming visitors back to their arts centre. We cannot wait for our audiences to enjoy the experience and make new memories as they engage with the exceptional range of arts and culture that has always been our hallmark, including in our new spaces – such as our three new cinemas, restaurant and the reimagined Mead Gallery.

With people throughout the UK and Europe set to visit our city to mark Coventry’s year as City of Culture, 2021 is set to be for exciting time for arts and culture in our region - and I’m delighted that we will be part of its success. I'd like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has been involved with the redevelopment of Warwick Arts Centre for making this possible and ensuring that audiences and visitors will be able to join us for decades to come. We’re back, bigger and better than ever, and our doors will be open wider than ever before."

The University of Warwick’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Stuart Croft, said:

"Sat right at the heart of our main campus, Warwick Arts Centre has been an integral part of the cultural life of our university and region for almost five decades. As we celebrate Coventry City of Culture 2021, it is wonderful that Warwick Arts Centre will soon be open again for audiences and visitors to come and enjoy all that it has to offer."

Further details on the transformation, and our exciting new season, will be revealed over the coming weeks, as well as news of several pre-opening projects.

The Warwick 20:20 Project was made possible by: University of Warwick, Arts Council England, CWLEP: Coventry and Warwick Local Enterprise Partnership, Garfield Weston Foundation, 29th May 1961 Charitable Trust and HS2 CEF.