London’s Battersea Arts Centre Opens ‘Scratch Hub’ Coworking Space

• A new flexible workspace has been launched in one of the UK’s most iconic cultural centres
• A total of 150 memberships are available for people on a flexible or full-time basis
• The interior design focuses on sustainability and includes repurposed materials and refurbished antique furniture

Battersea Arts Centre, one of the UK’s most iconic cultural centres, with a global reputation for innovation and creativity, is now offering beautiful and flexible workspace.

The new Scratch Hub — a community of entrepreneurs, an inspiring network and a programme of imaginative events — officially opens today. A total of 150 memberships are available for people on a flexible or full-time basis.

The Scratch Hub has been created with a generous grant of £538,000 from the Mayor of London’s regeneration funds, with additional funding for its activity programme from Battersea Power Station Foundation.

Designed by architects Haworth Tompkins, with interior design and fit-out by Jeannine Inglis Hall and Gary Campbell, the Scratch Hub has different spaces designed to foster different styles of working, incorporating areas for collaborating, for working more quietly and for socialising.

The interior design has striven to be ethical with sustainability of materials central to the process. Antique designer furniture has been restored especially for the space, with individual pieces renovated and reimagined, lockers salvaged from schools and art deco French screen doors repurposed to create booths. Bespoke, handmade wallpaper by artist Nicholas Hughes draws on the rich heritage of Battersea Arts Centre and its Victorian Town Hall building.

Battersea Arts Centre is seeking a diverse community of entrepreneurs, with opportunities for sharing skills, exchanging feedback, sparking connections and collaborating. Other benefits include a programme of talks, workshops and a dedicated events space for public launches and receptions close to the famous front doors of Battersea Arts Centre.

The first members to move in include TEAFilms, a production company working with arts organisations and educational institutions; House of Nyabinghi, a fashion company specialising in emerging designers from across the African diaspora; Link UP London who connect specialist volunteers willing to share their professional skills with local charities; and Baby Reign, which brings together young parents for creative workshops to prevent isolation and stigmatisation.

Baby Reign is one of several alumni enterprises from Battersea Arts Centre’s Agency programme, which works with young people to make their entrepreneurial ideas a reality.

The Scratch Hub is inspired by a process called Scratch which Battersea Arts Centre has been using since 2000 to test and develop ideas for theatre and performance. Scratch can be used by anyone who wants to get creative and has been adopted worldwide. By testing a small idea with people first — a ‘scratch’ — you can develop even better ideas, and strong networks and teams.

Memberships begin at £125 per month for 60 hours of flexible hot-desking, and go up to £275 per month for a full-time, fixed desk space. Fees will feed back into Battersea Arts Centre’s work with the local community from families and young people to artists and third sector professionals.

Thanks to the Battersea Power Station Foundation, the Scratch Hub offers a limited number of free Flexible Springboard memberships to local individuals or organisations with game-changing ideas and ambitions, who can’t yet afford to pay for a membership (available from Autumn 2019).

David Jubb, Artistic Director and CEO of Battersea Arts Centre, said:

“This is a dream come true – to open Battersea Arts Centre’s doors to creative entrepreneurs with great ideas – many of whom are running exciting new ventures – many of whom are engaged in making positive change. I think that bringing together small creative enterprises under the umbrella of an exciting cultural institution is the perfect way to grow great ideas – and I can’t wait to see, in years to come, all the positive consequences which develop from this coming together.”

Deputy Mayor for Planning, Regeneration and Skills, Jules Pipe, said:

“The Scratch Hub is a really good example of how to deliver affordable workspace and create a community for sharing skills. The Mayor and I are committed to supporting London’s growing start-ups, social enterprises and local businesses – and we are both really pleased to support this innovative project.”