Coventry City of Culture: Major new events hub being set up
It'll open in the city centre in July.
Last updated 18th May 2021
A new events hub is being set up in Coventry city centre, as part of the UK City of Culture celebrations.
The city of culture trust have teamed up with Assembly Festival on this, who are a leading venue producer at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
Assembly Festival Garden will be a centrepiece for the city’s year of cultural celebrations, and will run from 1 July to mid-October 2021.
The site will serve as a hangout hub, and will play host to a selection of local food makers.
The Garden will also host a box office that will serve both the Garden as well as all City of Culture events in other locations.
It's going to be located at the site of the demolished former Civic Centre buildings, now owned by Coventry University, opposite the Council House in the city centre.
Chenine Bhathena, Creative Director of Coventry UK City of Culture, said:
“With more than 40 years experience and an outstanding reputation, Assembly are experts at putting together world-class events, so we are delighted that they will play such a key part in the Coventry UK City of Culture celebrations. We are all excited about the ambitious plans we have for Assembly Garden and can’t wait to work together to create another great reason to visit Coventry this year.”
William Burdett-Coutts, Artistic Director of Assembly Festival, said:
“Assembly has been at the heart of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe for the past 40 years and we were honoured to be invited by the City of Culture Trust to play a part in this year’s celebrations in Coventry.
“The team can’t wait to get back to doing what we do best and creating a fun-filled festival centre which is set to delight audiences from Coventry and beyond. Our aim is to attract a wide audience and welcome those who might be exploring cultural events for the very first time.”
The site will eventually be home to Coventry University’s new hub for academic and research facilities as well as public spaces for the wider community.
Professor John Latham CBE, Vice-Chancellor of Coventry University Group, said:
“In demolishing the old buildings we saw there was an opportunity before we begin redevelopment of the site for it to be used as part of the City of Culture year.
“It represents a significant investment for us to get the site ready for use but one we are delighted to be able to make in what is such an important year for the city.
“We are certain the City of Culture team and Assembly will stage a tremendous celebration for Coventry and we can’t wait to be a part of it.”
Leader of Coventry City Council, Cllr George Duggins, said: "It is brilliant news that Assembly will be running such a key events space right in the heart of the city centre.
"Our year as City of Culture will see a wide variety of events in all sorts of spaces and venues as we tell our story and celebrate our year, and the Assembly Festival Garden will offer something new and exciting to the city for residents and visitors to enjoy.
"A real partnership approach has made this possible and a particular thank you to Coventry University for its generosity in making such a wonderful site available and adding yet another attraction to the coming year."
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