Arts Space of the Future – an RIBA London Arts Council competition open to London Architecture StudentsRIBA

London and Arts Council England have launched an ideas competition inviting RIBA London members (including all architecture students), to propose new designs for arts spaces of the future. The proposals should reflect changing lifestyles, expectations and forms of participation, new and developing arts practice, the need to address climate change and issues of sustainability and the move towards more flexible, publicly-engaged buildings.The competition aims to generate discussion and debate about the possibilities for the future of arts space design. The competition invites only conceptual schemes. Free from the constraints of construction details, the competitors are encouraged to be as creative and inventive as possible. Entrants should consider the possibilities of new technologies, flexibility for other uses, and to question the current typology.

The competition is open to RIBA London student, graduate and Chartered architect members and there will be cash prizes of £5,000 (1st), £2,500 (2nd) and £1,000 (3rd). The closing date for entries is 22 November 2007. Judging will take place in December and the winner will be announced on 10 January 2008 at the opening of a public exhibition hosted by the National Theatre. The judges for the Art Spaces for the Future Exhibition will be chaired by Charlie Leadbeater, leading authority on innovation and creativity, and will include: Sarah Weir (Executive Director, Arts Council England, London); Kwame Kwei Armah (actor and playwright); Tricia Austin (Central St Martins); Sarah Featherstone (Featherstone Associates); Dr Ben Todd (engineer and Executive Director of Arcola Theatre); and Steve Tompkins (Haworth Tompkins Architects).While the competition is only open to entries from RIBA members in London, there will be an opportunity for individuals from the wider architecture and arts sectors to discuss the issues raised by the competition, at an associated seminar in late January.

For further details or to download the design brief, please see: www.architecture.com/ribalondon I hope that some of your students will be interested in submitting work for this competition.

Kind regards

Antonia Faust

Projects and Events Manager

RIBA London66 Portland Place

London W1B 1AD

020 7307 3624