Kingston secures £250k libraries grant to improve the Hook Centre facilities and boost community creativity
Kingston Council has landed a grant of over a quarter of a million pounds to improve library and community services in the south of the borough.
The grant of £255,554 was awarded from Arts Council England’s Libraries Improvement Fund, part of their Cultural Investment Fund, for work at the Hook Centre in Chessington to be delivered between April 2023 and March 2024.
The centre, which is also the venue of a council-run Community Hub pilot, will see an array of practical improvements to its library and cultural facilities that will enable us work with partners to fire up the creative potential of our residents and provide spaces where our communities can develop their skills, share their stories and connect:
- The reception area will be reconfigured to create a more flexible exhibition and performance space, while flexible furniture will be added, as well as a pod for residents to have private conversations
- Museum cases will be integrated with bookshelves will be introduced to help make our heritage collections more accessible
- A mobile maker cart will be introduced, featuring making kits, digital creative equipment, video gaming resources, as well as tablets to enhance access to information and support wifi printing
- The existing recording studio will be refurbished, and there is also the potential to create a Library of Things - a lending library of practical household tools/appliances.
Councillor Peter Herlinger, portfolio holder for Culture, Heritage and Governance, said:
“This is fabulous news and a hugely exciting boost for the vital work that is done on a daily basis by our wonderful colleagues in libraries and community spaces. Our team put together a superb bid and we’re thankful to everyone involved for coming together and getting it over the line. We would particularly like to thank Arts Council England and DCMS for this vital support for our communities.
“Kingston has a rich cultural heritage and we are delighted to be able to strengthen our services throughout the borough. This grant gives us a unique opportunity to build inclusive community engagement, develop skills and support social inclusion and cohesion.
“We are passionate and committed to bringing quality services out into all our communities and closer to our residents.This work is proof of our ability to do just that.”