Opening 11 May, Storyhouse combines a theatre, library and cinema and will present a year-round programme of theatre, music, literature, dance, art and film. The team behind the project today announced the opportunity for local community organisations and individuals to use spaces in the brand new £37m venue to organise activities for the wider community.

Alex Clifton, Artistic Director, Storyhouse said “Our intention is to fill Storyhouse with activities run by the community for the community. The Storyhouse community programme is an opportunity for a range of people to share their passions, skills and expertise with others – building new communities and strengthening existing communities.”

Storyhouse is the largest public building ever in Chester, with over 7500 m2 of public space, across four floors. It accommodates a library, cinema, theatres, restaurant and bars plus a series of accessible rooms complete with a range of resources for community groups to make use of.

Principal Sponsor of Storyhouse, MBNA, is committed to helping local people get the most out of the inspirational spaces available to them. Employees at the credit card provider’s Chester Head office have been involved from the outset, and are now ramping up their activities including participating in test events, in the library handover and through the building’s unique innovation wall.

Mark Elliott, Director of Corporate Affairs at MBNA, said “People are at the heart of what we do at MBNA. We want to make good stuff happen for the community around us. So we’re hugely proud to be able to support this incredible new cultural investment for the region.”

Alex continues: “Our aim is for the entire building to be brought to life by the local community; to be used by groups and individuals to meet, connect, share, learn, play and create. We wish to create an open, democratic and inclusive space in which people can come together to discuss fundamental social questions of our time such as who are we and how shall we live?”

Storyhouse are looking for for groups or individuals to host activities that:

• Are open and welcoming to people of all backgrounds
• Free or very low cost
• Aim to strengthen an existing community or create a new one
• Promote and inspire creativity
• Can be a one-off or regular slot
• Take place in Storyhouse anytime during the seven day week from 8am to 10pm

Interested? Head here to find out more and complete the online application form.

Please apply by the end of April 2017, for your activity to take place in June-July.
To find out more visit storyhouse.com or email or call Nicola on 01244 409 113 / nicola@storyhouse.com