Studio 3 Arts are looking for a new Head of Operations. This is a great time to join the S3A team, as we complete the finishing touches to our newly redeveloped home and venue, following a £2m transformation into a world-class arts centre for the people of Barking & Dagenham.

The Head of Operations is an exciting opportunity for someone who is adept at creating and managing engaging public spaces, is committed to rigorous business systems and administration, and who has the ability to generate income from hires while providing a service to our community and safeguarding.

Read more

Could this be you? We are seeking an experienced and highly motivated facilities manager with a proven record in finance and business administration.  You don’t need to come from an arts background – perhaps you have worked in leisure, hospitality or healthcare – but you will have an interest in the arts and be keen to help our team deliver its wide-ranging programme. You will be a quick thinker, a problem solver and a people person. You will bring your professional venue management experience, commercial, and financial expertise to help develop the business and introduce operational systems which will make the building a welcoming and warm creative space for our artists, audiences and communities.

Closing date for applications:   Monday 13 March at 10am

More details on the role, including a person specification, key responsibilities, and how to apply, can be found in the Role Information Pack, available to download from the link below:

Role Info Pack

Liza Vallance, Artistic Director and CEO of Studio 3 Arts, has announced that she will be leaving to take on a new role as Deputy Director of Learning (Programmes) at the National Theatre in January.

Since 2009 Liza’s leadership has established Studio 3 Arts’ reputation as one of London’s leading participatory arts organisations at the forefront of socially-engaged, co-created arts.

As Liza moves on to this exciting new opportunity, we wish her all the very best for the future, from everyone at Studio 3 Arts.

Liza leaves Studio 3 Arts in a strong position, with our transformed new-look Barking venue reopening following a major redevelopment and a 40% uplift in Arts Council England funding secured for the next three years.

Attracting financial and cultural investment into Barking and Dagenham has been a key part of Studio 3 Arts’ growth and success during Liza’s 14 years as CEO. She has ensured Studio 3 Arts is firmly embedded in the life of the local community, building fruitful partnerships with many people and organisations, from local authority departments, community groups, national charities and world-leading arts organisations.

Prior to her appointment as Artistic Director, Liza had been working at Studio 3 Arts developing the Big Deal youth arts programme. Since joining as a Project Manager in 2003 she grew our portfolio of work with young people to include professional theatre, dance professional development, youth-led training for social workers and a youth-run music studio social enterprise. Liza’s youth engagement work has continued throughout, most recently with the with the youth leadership project Groundbreakers.

“Liza’s artistic vision and dedication has seen many achievements, driven by her ambition to democratise the arts through accessibility, diversity, and participation. Studio 3 Arts bring together artists and communities to collaborate and create real change in art and society. Some of Liza’s greatest success stories over the last 21 years have been the artists nurtured, the many communities inspired, and the thousands of individuals empowered through transformative co-created art. On behalf of everyone at Studio 3 Arts, and the wider community you’ve worked so tirelessly for and with, over many years, thank you.” — Frank McDonagh, Vice Chair, Studio 3 Arts

Notable achievements include the promenade adaptation of The Merchant of Venice in 2016, which saw a cast of 9 professional actors perform in locations around Barking with more than 100 local people, and Civil Blood, a collaboration between Big Deal and Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures,  which gave 20 young people from Barking and Dagenham the opportunity to create an original dance piece inspired by Bourne’s Romeo and Juliet and perform it on the main stage at the iconic Sadler’s Wells.

Liza said: “Studio 3 Arts has been my passion for almost half my life. I leave with great memories, lasting friendships and a fire in my belly to make sure everyone has access to outstanding art.  Studio 3 Arts is a team effort and without the hard work of the staff, artists, volunteers, trustees, partners and funders, it simply wouldn’t happen. I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone I’ve worked with over the years. Barking and Dagenham is still my family home and I’ll always be a proud supporter of the arts here. I wish Studio 3 Arts nothing but the best for the future.”

Here at Studio 3 Arts we’re celebrating news of increased funding and support from Arts Council England, with a 40% uplift on funding for our 2023-26 programme. 

The announcement of Studio 3 Arts’ successful bid came on Friday 4th November, when Arts Council England named the 990 organisations to receive National Portfolio Organisation (NPO) funding.

The grant recognises Studio 3 Arts’ extensive programme for Barking and Dagenham and beyond, providing opportunities for families, young people, adults, and elders to get involved in the arts. Through creative participation, volunteering, and as an audience member, Studio 3 Arts create transformative experiences for local people and forge strategic partnerships to reach those most in need.

Awarded an ‘Outstanding’ status for diversity, the Arts Council commended Studio 3 Arts for an inclusive programming and for working in an understanding, welcoming way with many different people and communities across the borough.

As we prepare to officially reopen our Barking venue following a major redevelopment, increased funding will help us bring ground-breaking public performances from a diverse range of local, national and international artists to the borough’s new arts centre.

Continued Arts Council support means the ongoing success of flagship programmes such as Big Deal, which offers free dance and drama to young people. The funding uplift will enable us to reach more people and increase impact. Future plans will respond to the needs of local people, supporting them through all stages of their lives, and develop pathways to employment for young people.

Embedded in the local community, we are most excited about how the increased financial support will allow partnership work to flourish with local organisations and community groups on future shared projects.

As a charity we depend on funding from many trusts, organisations and individuals. Ongoing support from our key partners such as Arts Council England and the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham is crucial to our ongoing success and for helping the arts thrive in the borough.

Chair of the Board, Karen West-Whylie said, “We are delighted that Studio 3 Arts has been recognised for the contribution it makes to the arts, culture and local community. It is testament to the dedication of all our staff, volunteers and participants that bring our work to life. We are grateful for the increase in funds and being able to realise our future ambitions. Many arts organisations didn’t receive funding, and we’d like to acknowledge support for those who may have not been successful”.

EMERGE is a unique month-long creative careers programme from the National Youth Theatre for young people aged 16–25 in East London. The deadline to apply is 30th August 2022.

Over a month of creative workshops, 1-2-1 mentoring and networking opportunities you will build your professional toolkit, confidence, and connections.

We’ll support and prepare you to make your next move into a creative job or training.

To sign up, please complete this short form: https://form.jotform.com/221293031212035

To be eligible, you must be currently not in education or employment. Priority for places to young people in Barking & Dagenham, Newham and Greenwich.

Studio 3 Arts’ Be and Do project is producing and hosting the first LGBQTIA+ friendly festival tent at a Barking and Dagenham festival. Join us in the Pride & Joy Tent at The Roundhouse Music Festival on Sunday 24 July, 12-5pm. Hosted by Matty May, with an upbeat, fun-filled and FREE programme in a space that welcomes everyone and is open to all ages.

Some of our guest highlights include everyone’s favourite pantomime dame, Mama G (@mamagstories) who will be telling family friendly stories and songs about being who you want and loving who you are that the whole family will love.

Fancy trying out some Vouge ballroom dancing? Then join Tarek Khwiss (@tarekkhwiss) workshop they aim to empower you through dance. You can also watch spectacular dance performances by leading female Krump and Hip Hop dancers Shortie Buck and Stevie (stevie_22)

Plus come and chill in the tent and enjoy great tunes throughout the day cutesy of legendary Dj Roxxxan (@rotriplex)

Visit hwww.lbbd.gov.uk/roundhouse-music-festival for the full programme.

See you there!

Would you like to get to know your neighbours a bit better?

Want to know where to find local info?

Interested in helping to make Gascoigne a safer, more connected neighbourhood?

If you answered YES to any of these questions – HELLO! 

We’re planning lots of events, meetings, workshops and outings over the next year, and everyone who lives, works or socialises in Gascoigne is welcome.

Click here to join our mailing list or give us a call on 020 8594 7136 to have a chat about how you can get involved.