Sinfonia Smith Square Hall awarded National Lottery Heritage Fund grant to transform into a world-class cultural venue.
Sinfonia Smith Square Hall is delighted to announce that it has been awarded a £452,035 grant by The National Lottery Heritage Fund to transform Smith Square Hall into a world-class cultural venue, with emerging talent at its heart. The grant marks a significant milestone in the venue’s history, following a rebrand earlier in 2024, and will help transform the 18th-century building into a dynamic centre for culture and classical music.
Made possible by National Lottery players, the project will enable Sinfonia Smith Square to continue its mission to create world-class performances and serve its communities within a flexible, accessible 21st Century performance space. The project aims to repair the historic fabric of the building, improve accessibility, expand the facilities for players and guest artists, and create outstanding experiences for audiences and visitors through upgraded lighting, sound, heating, and ventilation systems. In line with Sinfonia Smith Square’s ambition to become carbon neutral, the project will install renewable energy technologies throughout the building.
Capturing reminiscences of people who have lived and worked in the local area or taken part in performances in the Hall, forms a key part of the engagement activities. The project is keen to hear from anyone who has a story to share, or who would like to volunteer to help record these stories and use them to better understand the building's history and significance.
Commenting on the award, Chief Executive Rosie Fraser, said We’re delighted to have received this support thanks to National Lottery players. This is a huge step forward for the organisation, and we are working towards making the building fit for purpose for our players, audiences, and visitors. We wish to embed the building and our music programmes in the local community, working with local schools and community groups to create a vibrant cultural venue, while providing meaningful training and volunteering opportunities.
Work on the building is expected to commence in early 2027 and take around 18 months to complete.
Further Information: Home - Sinfonia Smith Square