Anniversary date: grants from four major funders will allow the community venue to receive a 21st Century update by 2029
South Norwood arts venue announces series of senior appointments, as it moves towards “vital” building works ahead of its founder’s 200th anniversary
South Norwood’s culture centre Stanley Halls has been awarded “significant” investment from four funders for a programme of “vital conservation” and development works.
Glass act: Edwardian tiles and glass needs some work at Stanley Halls
The bulk of the funding is to come from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, which decided to provide £381,633 towards the development of the scheme, with a potential delivery grant of £2,980,054.
Other funders include the Architectural Heritage Fund, the Swire Foundation and Pilgrim Trust, whose contributions “are set to herald a new era” for the building, which was given to the community by William Stanley, the engineer and inventor, whose 200th anniversary is in 2029 – the deadline for the regeneration project.
The Grade II-listed Stanley Halls has been a hub of cultural life for more than a century. “We continue to honour William Stanley’s motto for our building to be a space of ‘Justice, Liberty and Science’,” according to the building’s 2026 management.
The first two phases of a capital development programme were completed in 2025 with funding from the Mayor of London, the Heritage Lottery Fund, Historic England and the Architecture Heritage Fund.
The latest round of grants allows the start of “a multi-million-pound project to conserve, renovate and reimagine our historic home”, according to the venue’s announcement.
Historic venue: Stanley Halls in the 1910s, soon after it was opened
Agents of Change – AOC – has been appointed as architects for the works.
“The programme will include conservation works, environmental updates and improvements to building accessibility, all of which will remain true to the noble ideals of William Stanley’s original vision while maintaining the charm and period features of the current building.
“By the project’s completion we foresee that this south London landmark will have undergone extensive restoration which will allow us to celebrate our heritage, champion radical inclusion and amplify diverse voices even more effectively than we currently do.”
Works are expected to begin in early 2027. Before that, there is to be consultations, events, workshops and online forums, where the plans for the already funded scheme will be laid out for the public.
The arts organisation based at Stanley Halls has announced a raft of personnel changes among its trustees, with Sonia Solicari appointed as chair.
Solirari takes over from Almiro Andrade, who has chaired Stanley Arts since 2023.
New chair: Sonia Solicari
Solicari is a curator, writer and museum leader, described as an expert in “reshaping how cultural organisations connect with contemporary audiences” Since 2017, she has been director of the Museum of the Home (leading “the institution’s bold reinvention from the Geffrye Museum”). Solicari has overseen “a landmark redevelopment that doubled public space, introduced acclaimed new galleries and established a pioneering programme exploring the social issues that shape our lives”.
She has previous worked as head of Guildhall Art Gallery and was a curator at the V&A. She serves on the National Museum Directors’ Council, sits on the Museums Association’s Ethics Committee and is a Trustee of Bethlem Gallery.
“I’m delighted to be joining Stanley Arts as chair,” Solicari said.
“I’m inspired by the organisation’s energy, ambition and deep commitment to its community. It’s a place where creativity brings people together and everyone is invited to take part.”
Joining Solicari on the board will be James Cross, a former civil servant at the culture department, now an investment manager, as treasurer, while Lundi Nyoni takes on the roles of deputy chair and secretary. Also joining the board is professional fundraiser Laura Gabe.
“These new additions to the board will bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to help the organisation go even further to deliver for their audiences and community,” Stanley Arts said in announcing the board changes.
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