About

Bold Tendencies has transformed a disused building in the heart of South London into an iconic, much-loved place of culture and assembly.

Bold Tendencies is for everyone. More than 1.5 million people have enjoyed our summer seasons, celebrating the free enjoyment of public space in the city and enjoying this special spectacular place.

Bold Tendencies delivers an ambitious annual artistic programme of Visual Arts, Creative Learning and Live Events. Each annual programme brings to life a major theme: a series of responses from a new generation of voices alongside acclaimed international artists in visual art, music, dance, opera, poetry and readings. This allows for multiple entry points for the public, artists and audiences, as well as placing our work in conversation with wider cultural happenings and urgent conversations.

Our year-round Creative Learning programme of free and accessible initiatives foster space for local groups and individuals to imagine, create, appreciate the arts, and exercise the right to joy.
Working closely with groups and organisations in Peckham, Southwark and beyond – schools and family/community centres, youth clubs and health/social services. Celebrating enjoyment, inspiration and experimentation, our activities centre everyday creativity and community wellbeing.

Live Events at Bold Tendencies challenge and expand established boundaries between audience and artist, stage and seat. Deliberately preserving the raw fabric of over 40,000 sq ft of space, the peculiar conditions of this unlikely “concrete concert hall” defy traditional categorisation. An alternative to the mainstream, a world-class programme of music, dance, opera and readings brings the marginal centre stage, with broad and popular appeal.

Recognised internationally for transformative contributions to the landscape of live performance in the UK and abroad, Bold Tendencies brings radical practices, new generations of talent, learning opportunities and sought-after disciplines to Peckham.

Unafraid to pursue the radical, it works with some of the most adventurous artists of the younger generation – including Caleb Femi, Jay Bernard, Davóne Tines, and Oona Doherty – bringing audiences fresh practices and sought-after disciplines at a world class level. Long-term creative partnerships include Sharon Eyal and L-E-V, The Multi-Story Orchestra, the Philhamonia Orchestra and Loud Crowd Opera.

The Live programme looks to address barriers to the enjoyment of culture through the provision of affordable tickets and empowering experiences for local residents, children and young people, including free Public Rehearsals, Community Tickets, Backstage Pass and Ask the Artist sessions.