The Art House has revealed that after 15 years as a vital part of Southampton's cultural scene, they will bid farewell to their current venue at Above Bar Street by the end of March 2024.
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Described as the "cornerstone of Southampton's grassroots cultural scene" by InCommon, The Art House acknowledged in a social media post announcing the change the financial challenges faced by many venues, and cited increased expenses and a decline in support.
“Everyone here has been pouring their hearts and souls into The Art House for an incredible 15 years, but as time has gone on, the core team have been feeling the pull towards other personal and creative adventures,” they said on Facebook.
“Running The Art House as a physical space full time is a huge commitment, and it's time for us to make room for new experiences.”
Despite this, the post emphasised that it's not the end for The Art House. It’s intended that the community pantry and events like Moving Voices open mic night will continue in new locations.
And the team expressed gratitude to supporters and announced plans for future pop-ups and partnerships to keep their vision alive.
As the transition unfolds, The Art House urged the community to stay positive, support ongoing initiatives, and share memories on their Facebook Group. They emphasised the importance of continued attendance at events and earlybird ticket bookings to sustain current and future plans.
You can read more about plans, and see the upcoming season's events, on The Art House website.