BURA AWARDS
HOTHOUSE

Within this environment, BURA has become the leading independent organisation for those involved in regeneration. Its unique strength is derived from its wide range of members who represent the private, public and community sectors, and this distinguishes it from all other sectoral interest groups. BURA identifies and promotes best practice in regeneration and advocates an integrated approach to the social, economic and environmental issues involve

The Association offers its members national and regional networks, dynamic and diverse events, seminars and conferences, research services, best practice awards, and specialist forums covering key issues of the regeneration agenda.

The BURA Awards for Best Practice in Regeneration are sponsored by English Partnerships.

English Partnerships is the Government's national regeneration agency. Its aim is to deliver high quality, sustainable growth in England:

Developing its portfolio of strategic sites

Acting as the Government's specialist advisor on brownfield land

Ensuring that surplus public sector assets are used to support wider Government objectives, especially those contained in the Sustainable Communities Plan

Helping to create communities where people can afford to live and want to live
Supporting the urban renaissance by improving the quality of our towns and cities

Information on projects and programmes can be found at www.englishpartnerships.co.uk

"The high quality of the regeneration schemes and projects which we have assessed this year is a testimony to the massive improvements which have taken place in the theory and practice of urban regeneration."
Professor Roberts, Chairman of the BURA Best Practice Committee
 
English Partnerships awarded their special prize to Hothouse because it demonstrates

"the best qualities of successful partnership most notably the development, communication and delivery of a shared vision, and the dedication of a range of different interests groups integrating physical regeneration, community involvement and various employment opportunities."
English Partnerships

"The English Partnerships special award presents us with the opportunity to single out a particular scheme that exemplifies the importance of working in partnership."
Margaret Ford, Chair of English Partnerships

Partnership is integral to the ethos of Hothouse: its creation and funding has brought together no less than 12 different funding and delivery partners from the commercial, public, arts and voluntary sectors and creative social enterprise. The capital stages of development and the continuing programmes and activities of all the occupants have involved: Ash Sakula Architects; Mansells Special Projects; London Development Agency; Barclays European Environmental Loan Fund; ERDF and ESF; London Borough of Hackney; Single Regeneration Budget through Heart of Hackney Partnership administered by Renaisi; Free Form Arts Trust; The Learning Trust; HBV Enterprises; Business Link; SEEDA; Bootstrap Enterprises; and many community groups within Hackney.

“How inspirational it is for Free Form Arts Trust to receive these awards at Tate Britain - especially when we are striving to achieve Phase 2 by 2006 to respond to the growing demands for cultural excellence and innovation in towns, cities and local neighbourhoods across the UK.  Hothouse brings all these issues together and I would like to thank BURA for this recognition”
Derek Parkes (Chair, Free Form) who collected the award on behalf of Free Form

Hothouse is a centre for community-based regeneration through the arts and creative industries, based in London Fields, East London.  The centre is the location for the arts charity Free Form Arts Trust and also houses the ‘Green Bottle Unit’ creating 100% recycled glass products; an events and exhibition space; and in converted railway arches an IT Design Suite and creative industries workspace. Hothouse Phase 2 will expand the creative resources and workspace at Hothouse, including increased floorspace for seminars, meetings and conferences; creative industry workspaces for artists’ residencies and international exchanges; and access to specialist resources and high quality facilities to support expansion and growth of local creative industries.  The Phase 2 build programme is due to commence Summer 2005.
 

For images and further information contact Joanne Milmoe at Free Form Arts Trust on 020 7249 3394 or email joanne@freeform.org.uk