6. Barbican Production and Maker Hub
Partner
Lincoln University
Project Description
The Barbican is a vacant Grade II listed building in the ownership of the Lincolnshire Co-Operative Society Ltd. (Co-Op) and has been unoccupied since 2008. The Barbican is an iconic building in a highly prominent location in Lincoln, being opposite the train station and adjacent to the central bus station, which is an important gateway into the City.
Extensive feasibility identified the opportunity for a creative hub to be incorporated within the building. The Hub will provide floorspace and a platform for the establishment of start-up and fledgling businesses within the creative sector, in an environment where occupiers can access knowledge, skills and markets within a cluster of like-minded businesses. Occupiers of the building will also have the ability to access knowledge and talent within the University of Lincoln, along with programmes to optimise creative interaction and collaboration between freelancers and businesses.
The creative hub will also link to other assets in culture, education and the creative industries so that knowledge exchange, innovative practice and research can be more widely shared. The creative hub would therefore be the focal point for this activity and provide services and expertise across the county, plus enable hubs in other parts of Lincolnshire to develop complementary activities.
Total project cost: £3,342,000
Town Deal funding: £1,700,000
Barbican creative hub entranceway and staircase ground floor