Page 19 - Studio International - June 1966

London's new arts centre

by Roland Penrose

London, as we all know, is geographically the centre of are joining in founding a centre which will give us all
the world and inevitably the gate-way between Europe ample scope to work together and still retain our own
and America, but London has never had a centre for the individuality. We shall have the advantage of sharing a
arts that could live up to its unique and advantageous club, restaurant, and library with four societies: the
position. This is now all the more lamentable since today Society of Industrial Artists and Designers; the Design
from many sides we are bombarded with compliments and Industries Association; the Designers and Art Direc-
about the talent of our artists, the enterprise of our tors Association; and the Institute of Landscape Artists;
dealers, the fabulous feats of our auctioneers, and widely but we shall also have the space necessary to carry on
praised for the general ferment of excitement which be- independently our own activities.
gins in our nurseries, grows in our art schools, reaches its The main feature will be a splendid exhibition gallery
pitch in exhibitions, competitions, and happenings all —top-lit and flexible so that it can be adapted to the
over the country, and finally invades the sanctity of our needs of each exhibition. It will be entered from the Mall
museums. and an area above the entrance hall will house the I.C.A.
Amongst all this the Institute of Contemporary Arts, offices, beyond which at a right angle to the gallery will
concentrating its life in a small multi-purpose gallery, be the Assembly Hall, organized as a small theatre to seat
has struggled and danced on a shoe-string for the last 300, equipped with film projector and a stage, and adap-
seventeen years. With its existence threatened by a re- table to events on a large or small scale.
lentless landlord who menaces the I.C.A. with eviction on There will be a foyer at the entrance to the Hall and
account of the nuisances it has committed and the peace above this the I.C.A.'S cafeteria for members and their
it has disturbed by playing records of Schwitters' poems guests. A passage connects the gallery to the library and
and Dubuffet's music, and other inconveniences like to one of the houses of Carlton House Terrace, No. 12, in
blockages on the stairs caused by eager crowds besieging which the five societies will have their club rooms, restau-
lectures and visitors such as Joan Miro or Stockhausen— rant, board room and offices.
at this very moment a great new future for the I.C.A. has The accommodation is spacious and eminently suitable;
come into view. The foundation of a centre for the arts is a top-lit gallery of these dimensions (7,444 sq. ft) at
now a sound project welcomed and encouraged from ground level is in itself an asset almost impossible to find
widely different quarters, and in particular by the whole- in central London, but what is even more enviable is the
hearted support of the Arts Council. site and the unexpected contrasts in atmosphere that it
The great Nash building known as Carlton House Ter- offers. In the first place the building with its imposing
race is to offer the accommodation we need and allow for facade of classic dignity will contain an efficiently planned
the sudden expansion which we are planning. The I.C.A. and simple modern interior— a fascinating marriage be-
has found allies among the designers and architects who tween external tradition and internal revolution; second,
the position of Carlton House Terrace poised between St
James's Park with its ducks and pelicans mingling with
`the establishment' and high life on one side, and Picca-
dilly, Charing Cross and Trafalgar Square—all within
five minutes— on the other, is a focal point in the life of
the city. We shall be situated at the heart of London but
with the amenities of trees and open spaces at our door.
Our hope is that London, and in particular the artists,
will respond to the opportunity with which they are being
provided and make the new centre a place where meet-
ing, mixing, enjoyment, and experiment will inject a new
purpose into life. We do not intend to lose the intimate
atmosphere that has contributed largely to our success in
Dover Street.
Success in the future will depend on the participation of
the artists just as it has done in the past. Our exhibitions
will continue to stress the experimental and those aspects
of art that go beyond conventional limitations, and we
shall search out our talent wherever it may be found in
this country and abroad. A distinguished sculptor once
told us that whatever he could find as criticism of the
I.C.A. it would be terrible if it were not there. Now it is to
Nash's Carlton House Terrace, where the I.C.A. assembly hall to seat 300 people, provided with be there in greater strength than ever—a centre of
will have a permanent home—the new arts the latest equipment for visual and audio-
centre will include a gallery of nearly 7,500 sq. reproduction essential for lectures and con- national and international importance and a stimulus to
ft at ground level. ferences; 3. a library to house a new and as yet art and to life. q
The total area of approximately 31,000 sq. ft unique library of design and contemporary art;
divides into two parts: a gallery, assembly hall, 4. a council room and committee rooms to be
entrance, etc.-16,308 sq. ft; the house, 12 shared between five organizations; 5. office
Carlton House Terrace-14,816 sq. ft. accommodation to enable each society to
In detail this accommodation comprises: administer its business and service its members
1. an exhibition gallery of 7,500 sq. ft; 2. an efficiently.