NDT Broadgate was our revolutionary civic space initiative, designed to supercharge the recovery of freelance artists post-pandemic.
Running from August 2021 through July 2022, NDT Broadgate was a large rehearsal and artist development complex exclusively for independent artists, based in City of London.
The revolutionary space was completely FREE for freelance and independent artists to use throughout the year. Featuring more than 16 rehearsal spaces, 10 meeting rooms, project spaces, writers' offices and recording studios, multiple communal areas and a large designers’ studio with make-spaces, this ambitious project was the first of its kind in the world.
Here you can explore the context and legacy of NDT Broadgate, including an independent Economic Impact Assessment showing a value of £40m unlocked across the creative economy, and our own report on an extraordinary year Notes From an Impossible Space. It is our hope that this archive will inspire the next wave of radical reimagining for the future of artist development around the world.
'A generous and essential project' Stephen Fry
First, hear what our artists had to say:
Economic Impact Assessment
Commissioned by British Land and NDT from leading independent evaluators BOP Consultants, this report explores the economic impact of NDT Broadgate and how it fuelled the recovery of the arts post-pandemic.
The headline findings from their extensive research show that NDT Broadgate generated £40m of additional revenue for the UK economy, including includes £27.4m value added and over 1,000 full-time jobs - all making a striking case for the value of ambitious partnerships and investment in independent artists and the need for affordable creative space in London. You can read the full report here:
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Notes from an Impossible Space
Published to coincide with the final NDT Broadgate application ballot, Notes from an Impossible Space: NDT Broadgate and the Future of Artist Support is our year-end project report, capturing a moment in time, an adrenaline shot of inspiration, and a primer for a more hopeful future.
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At the time of publishing in May 2022, this revolutionary project had gifted over 105,000 artist-hours of free space to independent theatre-makers, companies, designers and writers. In total, 656 companies and groups made 213 new shows, 29 national tours and 9 new films.
Leading the way in national impact and inclusive, diverse recovery, projects reached the length and breadth of the country – from Theatre Royals Plymouth and Margate to Wakefield and Harrogate – and prestigious London stages including Barbican and Young Vic. With a bold venue design and culture grounded in widening access, 31% of supported artists were Black, East Asian, South Asian and from the Global Majority, 39% Working Class and 16% D/deaf or Disabled.
NDT Broadgate was a partnership between New Diorama Theatre and British Land, in partnership with City of London, and generously supported by Arts Council England, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, Jerwood Arts and Theatre Deli.