Published: 7 November 2018
The public will be able to go inside Erith’s iconic Carnegie building and enjoy several exciting events before Christmas, prior to its official opening on 1 February 2019.
Local company, The Exchange, who are managing the building, will be hosting a free exhibition by arts project Centrepieces from 19 November. The exhibition will encompass painting, sculpture, mask making and photography. An auction of the art featured will take place on Saturday 1 December. Tickets don’t need to be pre-booked: simply turn up and enjoy a variety of art in this unique space. Exhibition opening times will be publicised ahead of the auction.
The Exchange will also host a three-week Pop-up Cinema from Thursday 6 December until Friday 21 December from 6pm until 11pm in the building. This cinematic treat will see poetry, classic literature, short stories, comics and graphic novels get the big screen treatment. Films to be shown include, amongst others, Black Panther, Pulp Fiction and O Brother Where art thou. Tickets can be purchased online and cost £4 per adult.
Cllr Louie French, Bexley’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Growth said:
“It’s wonderful to see this beautiful old building being brought back into use for the benefit of the local community. Erith is one of the main locations that will benefit from our ambitious growth strategy for the borough, and we have an ongoing programme of regeneration, aimed at developing the town into a thriving riverside community.”
Following its official opening in February, the lower ground floor of the building will be available for use by the public. This will house ‘The Conversation Room’, an area for creativity and community events, as well as ‘The Bookstore Cafe’, a fantastic new space for freshly produced food and drink.
The improvements to the Carnegie Building are part of the Greater Erith Programme funded by Bexley Council and the Mayor of London.
London Borough of Bexley and The Exchange have received National Lottery Funding to further develop the regeneration project at the Carnegie building and will use this development funding to progress their plans to apply for a full grant in 2019. The next phase of the works will focus on making the upper parts of the building available for work and studio space.
For more information on the Centrepieces art exhibition and to book tickets for the Pop-up Cinema go to www.theexchangeerith.com