A new operator is being sought for Worthing’s Colonnade House, with proposals invited to run the creative venue from April 2027.
The opportunity covers its street-facing gallery, artists’ studios and a workshop space next door. Applicants can propose taking different parts of the offer, but every bid must include the gallery.
The council’s application pack sets a minimum rental proposal of £35,000 plus VAT a year for all the spaces combined. That figure applies to the complete package, rather than automatically to a proposal for fewer components.
Why is the lease being offered?
Worthing Borough Council says the current lease held by Adur & Worthing Trust ends in March 2027. Its announcement of the opportunity invites proposals for the next stage of the venue’s operation.
The process is an invitation to run the venue, rather than an announcement that it is closing. The council wants a financially viable proposal that supports a broad range of art forms and makes the spaces accessible to different parts of the community.
For artists, exhibitors and visitors, the outcome will shape who manages the building and how its public-facing programme develops after the current lease.
What is included, and what would it cost?
The application pack separates the offer into three zones: the gallery, ten studios on the upper floors, and the workshop space.
It gives indicative annual rental proposals of £10,000 for the gallery, £20,000 for the studios and £5,000 for the workshop, plus VAT. Applicants should use the pack to match their proposal to the spaces they want to operate.
The proposed lease is on full repairing and insuring terms. That makes the responsibilities attached to the lease an important part of a bidder’s assessment, alongside rent and the cost of delivering a programme.
A fixed lease length is not prescribed in the offer; applicants are asked to state their preferred term. The workshop is intended to support activities including teaching, work with young people and practical art sessions.
Who is this opportunity for?
This is an operator opportunity for organisations or groups with a plan to manage creative spaces. It is different from booking an exhibition slot or enquiring about an individual studio.
The current Colonnade House website provides the existing gallery programme and information about the venue’s studios. That gives prospective applicants a starting point for understanding its present role, while the council’s pack contains the requirements for the new lease.
When is the deadline?
Proposals must be submitted by 5pm on Monday 30 November 2026. Applicants should follow the submission instructions in the pack and address both their creative plans and how the operation would be sustained financially.
The intended start is April 2027, following the end of the existing lease.
