Kingston’s Ancient Market House comes alive this summer with creative pop-up by Kingston University Art students
Kingston’s historic, Grade II listed Ancient Market House will be reimagined as a creative hub ‘Not My Beautiful House,’ a project led by Union of Kingston Students and supported by Studio KT1.
As part of the Council’s wider borough High Street regeneration programme, the historic, Grade II listed Ancient Market House will be reimagined as a creative hub ‘Not My Beautiful House,’ a collaborative project led by Union of Kingston Students and supported by Studio KT1, a creative agency powered by Kingston University students.
Ancient Market House will be transformed as a new public cultural and retail space that will involve local communities, bringing exhibitions, performances, music events and workshops, and creative enterprise into the historic heart of the town centre.
Emphasising cooperation and experimentation, the programme will provide a platform for more than 150 local businesses, creatives and young artists. Set up to facilitate the sharing of knowledge and skills between local students and residents, the programme provides enterprise and employment opportunities, supporting Kingston’s thriving creative economy.
This will see the creative enterprise move ‘Not My Beautiful House’ from their current location in Fife Road to the Ancient Market House in the heart of Kingston town centre for the next six months.
The programme will launch on Thursday 26 May with tickets available for the grand opening from 6pm. We anticipate demand will be high and there is limited capacity - early booking is advised. More information can be found at www.notmybeautifulhouse.co.uk
Councillor Andreas Kirsch, Leader of Kingston Council, said:
“The Ancient Market House is a beautiful building and it’s wonderful to put it to great use as a home for the borough’s modern, creative projects.
“We are passionate about celebrating Kingston’s unique history, heritage and diverse communities, as well as nurturing and encouraging a bright future for the borough and partnerships such as this one show our commitment to doing just that.
“We’re delighted to get this over the line and look forward to Not My Beautiful House inspiring the community and breathing new life into the town centre.”
Yasmin Noor, VP Student Opportunities from Union of Kingston Students, added:
“We are immensely proud of the success of Not My Beautiful House, and the platform we’re providing for local businesses, creatives, and young artists in a place to achieve success in one of the most recognisable buildings in Kingston.
“Our inclusive, diverse community will continue to break down barriers and encourage collaboration between students and the community.”