A brand new marketing and management opportunity has arisen to help find tenants for Worcester’s nearly-refurbished Victorian railway arches.

The Arches-Worcester initiative, which has received an investment of over £3 million from central government’s Cultural Development Fund, aims to create a new cultural quarter for Worcester.  A number of railway arches located between Foregate Street, the Hive and the riverside are being converted into studios fit for creative businesses, with the first four expected to be ready to welcome tenants from the early New Year.

Worcester City Council, in partnership with the University of Worcester, Severn Arts and Worcestershire County Council, is seeking an agency to market and manage the studios to prospective tenants.  Applications are welcome from businesses wishing to manage one or both functions.

Under the terms of the Cultural Development Fund investment, the refurbished Arches studios must be let for creative and artistic purposes only.  The definition includes professionals working in design, media and performance.

“We are really excited to see the refurbishment of the first four Arches near completion,” said Cllr Adrian Gregson, Chair of the Arches Worcester Steering Group.

“We expect interest in occupying these brand new studios to be high.  We are now seeking new partners to help market and manage the tenancies to creative and artistic professionals.  We look forward to welcoming the first tenants to the Arches Worcester in early 2022.”

Interest from individuals willing to share a studio or from groups wishing to share a space will be welcomed – in addition to those interested in occupying a whole studio.

A number of arches in the vicinity have already been independently occupied by restaurants and bars, a brewery, a coffee bar, entertainment and industrial design units.

The deadline for applications for the Arches-Worcester tenancy management and marketing brief is 5.00pm on Monday 29 November 2021.  Interviews, if needed, will take place in the week commencing 6 December.

For further information go to www.thearchesworcester.co.uk/frontpage/space or email procurement@worcester.gov.uk