The Arthouse is a new and pioneering form of arts venue that promotes emerging artists through the reutilisation of empty space. Our independent arts programme showcases emerging talent, with an emphasis on the innovative and avant-garde.

The Arthouse does not compete for public or private sector funding, but enjoys total financial self sufficiency, principally through revenue streams generated by donations, service and industry. With no extramural objectives or targets, our bottom-line is creative freedom.

---

A Space.

We offer artists free space to create, exhibit and sell their work, as and when we have it. During our interim phase, we invite artists to make temporary use of suitable rooms or floors we are not using ourselves. The Oubliette provides an ideal platform for creative people to develop ideas, network, and enjoy our way of life.

---

A Platform.

Finding a place to rehearse, perform and exhibit can be a prohibitively difficult and expensive thing in London, especially when it comes to fringe groups trying to break into the mainstream and particularly when it comes to the experimental.

The Arthouse caters for emerging talent by offering dedicated spaces to showcase the arts - such as a theatre space and a cinema. The emails in from artists and performers in dire need of space since our inauguration in April is a good indicator of the level of this need.

---

A Community.

The ability for artists not only to exhibit their work, but to become involved more with each other, connect across a variety of mediums, evolve ideas, network and share knowledge is a vital component of the project.

The Arthouse encourages people to work together as a community, involving artists and the public alike, facilitating an experience of an artistic setting where one can dip in and out of a variety of events and activties as they please.

The Arthouse aspires to be, as John Tusa described as one of his ideals for an arts institution, a place where 'minds are fed, intellects stretched, and emotions challenged'.

Interim Bases

The objective of Interim Bases is to host pop-up venues over the Capital until we are able to secure a longer term Arthouse - ideally by negotiating for free use of unused warehouses pending sale or development.

During our residencies, we demonstrate how the Arthouse model works by staging events focused towards promoting emerging artists. Since our inauguration in Waterloo in 2009, we have enjoyed a great deal of success in bringing the emerging arts to centre stage.

We have achieved a network of thousands of artists and supporters here and overseas, and benefit from the contributions of a number of people from a huge array of fields.

---

Do you own an open-plan space in London that is going to waste? Email 'pitch' to info@theoubliette.co.uk for a link to our presentation.

The Oubliette, London's original Arthouse, was founded in a disused English language school in Waterloo, in April 2009.

Committed to developing high quality events that showcase emerging artists and provide a platform for new work, we have hosted visual, three-dimensional, performance and music based works as well as charity fund raising events.

Our Practice
The Oubliette is an arts group and not, as is often mistakenly reported, a collective. We operate as an autonomous, non-profit organisation that relies exclusively on a volunteer work base, and the contributions from our supporters. Outside of our individual views, the group is politically neutral and does not provide a platform for political activism.

As a self-financed organisation that raises money through visitor donations, we rely on a strong volunteer/supporter base to staff and co-ordinate events, maintain the buildings we control, provide logistical and technical support, supply resources such as lighting and seating and provide consultancy in management, legal and logistics.

---

To find out how you can volunteer for The Oubliette, please click here.

We are very grateful to be represented by the gist media.

Please direct all press enquiries to thegistmedia@me.com.