East London dance and UD’s vibrant new creative hub in the heart of Stratford’s Sugar House Island opening this autumn

To mark the lease completion and start of our fit-out, East London Dance and UD are delighted to reveal first-look images of The Talent House, a vibrant new creative hub on Sugar House Island in Stratford that will bring the two organisations together under one roof.
With high-performance professional facilities spanning across three floors housed in a historic warehouse with a modern extension, The Talent House is purpose-built to facilitate and encourage the passions and aspirations of dance and music artists, supporting young people and local communities on every step of their creative journey.
Designed by Waugh Thistleton with internal design by award-winning architect Katy Marks, from Citizens Design Bureau, and located within a new development by Vastint UK, the building comprises two dance studios, five music production/recording studios, a live room and two vocal booths, a large flexible rehearsal/events space and a tech lab for education and training. The design brief also includes a shared area for building users and members, including a canteen and co-working space, and a central atrium functioning as the main reception of The Talent House and as a space for dance jams and informal gigs.

This new permanent home will enable East London Dance and UD, long-standing champions of the next generation of artists, entrepreneurs and creative leaders, to support even more outstanding but under-represented talent - developing their skills, nurturing confidence and helping to build careers.
An engine room for creativity, The Talent House will create opportunities for early career and more established dance and music artists to connect with one another, to be inspired and create, as well as encouraging the crosspollination of talent, ideas, conversation and performance between art forms. More than 2,100 hours of free access to the building and its facilities will be made available to locally-based independent artists every year.

With professional rehearsal spaces and digital broadcast capability throughout the building, brand new creations and collaborations from bold, authentic and blazingly contemporary east London dance and music creatives will have a vital launchpad to reach new audiences locally, nationally and internationally.
Opening this autumn for everyone with an interest in expressing themselves through dance and music, from first steps to professional heights, The Talent House aims to welcome more than 12,000 people every year with an inspirational public programme, co-curated with young people, artists and local residents.
The Talent House has been made possible with the support of Arts Council England; Greater London Authority; London Legacy Development Corporation; London Borough of Newham; Vastint UK; Westfield East Bank Creative Futures Fund, funded by Westfield Stratford City and delivered by Foundation for Future London; London Marathon Charitable Trust; The Linbury Trust; Foyle Foundation; Cockayne – Grants for the Arts & London Community Foundation; and Arts & Culture Impact Fund. East London Dance and UD continue to fundraise for the final £350k to reach the £4.1m target for The Talent House.

Sugar House Island is a balanced, mixed-use development that has been carefully curated in line with Stratford’s regeneration as a hotspot for successful, forward-thinking creative businesses and communities.

Pamela McCormick, Director, UD said: “All are welcome at our home, a state-of-the-art new building called The Talent House, at 3 Sugar House Lane in Stratford. At UD, we understand that young people need the resources and space to create and explore their potential. The Talent House provides just that while UD continues to empower those trying to make it in the music industry to realise they already belong, while equipping those who are breaking through into notoriously competitive creative environments with the tools they need:  Excellence, structure, confidence, opportunity and networks.”

Polly Risbridger, Chief Executive, East London Dance said “East London Dance has been championing and growing east London’s dance scene for over three decades and we’re thrilled to call this incredible new building home and be able to welcome in our local communities. We see a world where creative talent is always met with opportunity, no matter where you come from, and post-pandemic this space will be essential to help the creative community to reconnect, recover and renew their creative endeavours. The Talent House is a building for the young people and artists of east London and their voices will be at the heart of all of our decision making.”

Katy Marks, Director, Citizens Design Bureau said: “We design a lot of spaces for the performing arts, but it is exciting to be designing spaces that are specifically for the creative process, nurturing talent and supporting the next generation of artists. In a post Covid world, this project feels more essential than ever!”

Andrew Cobden, Managing Director, Vastint UK said: “East London Dance and UD’s arrival in Sugar House Island is a boost both to the development and local community – putting the spotlight on east London as a creative and collaborative area to live and work. Sugar House Island is forming a distinct, new community with people at its heart. East London Dance and UD will play a key role in building this community as they continue to inspire thousands of young people.”

East London Dance Youth Advisory Board member said: “This building sounds like somewhere that I will want to go – and will give me a chance to meet professionals and follow my dream of becoming a dancer.”

Amahla, singer songwriter and UD alumna said: “There is so much talent coming out of the UK but not enough spaces for young people to experiment and develop before they are swept up in success. Having a space to meet, connect, rehearse, create and build a team are integral to every creative’s development, especially for those making music outside of mainstream music education.”

Althea Loderick, Chief Executive of Newham Council, said: “We’re delighted that The Talent House will be opening in Stratford later this year. I’ve long been familiar with East London Dance’s brilliant work but it’s especially good that UD is returning to the borough where they started way back in 2000. In providing educational and vocational opportunities to the young people of our borough, this exciting and ambitious new venture will inspire new generations of entrants into the creative industries. It’s been an extremely challenging year for the arts, of course, so The Talent House represents shining new hope for the future.”

Tonya Nelson, Area Director, London, Arts Council England said: “I want to congratulate East London Dance and UD for their move to The Talent House this summer. Fostering creativity is as crucial as ever and I am pleased that funding from the Arts Council is enabling investment in long-term space for artists, regardless of their background, to develop their career and creative skills. Places like The Talent House, that bring London’s diverse cultures together to connect them to new audiences and opportunities are vital for the continued success of London’s creative industries.”

Sarah Nelson, Director of Programmes and Communications, Foundation for Future London said: “Foundation for Future London’s grant to UD and East London Dance’s new Talent House build and programme is the biggest investment we’ve made from our new Westfield East Bank Creative Futures Fund, supported generously by Westfield Stratford City. The grant signals our commitment to diversity, inclusion and access in dance and music talent development and creative sector growth in east London. We believe that young people from disadvantaged backgrounds, emerging local talent and community businesses deserve a chance to be nurtured and to flourish in London’s fastest growing new cultural district, along with East Bank and other Olympic Park developments. We want them to benefit and be part of the exciting changes taking place, and we are confident The Talent House will offer an inclusive creative learning and educational space for decades to come.”

Peter Leathem, Chief Executive Officer at PPL said: “PPL is a proud supporter of UD and it’s work helping young artists and emerging professionals develop sustainable careers in music. We look forward to continuing our partnership with United Development as we work towards a more diverse, equal and inclusive music landscape.”