Historic Buildings

The People's Hall

This project is focused on Grade 1 critical repairs to St Columb's Hall and ensuring access for all to St Columb's Hall, a Grade A listed former temperance Hall in the heart of the Walled City of Derry with a powerful connection to the local community. - The Hall is on the Heritage at Risk register - It partially re-opened to the public in 2022, but remains inaccessible to those with access and inclusion needs due to deterioration of services and key aspects of the building fabric. - The Main auditorium has been stabilised but requires urgent intervention at northern elevation in particular to ensure stage, back stage and accessible entrances are safe to use for all. Key tasks for the project: 1.Provide access to St Columb's Hall for all, with a specific focus on new communities and those with access and inclusion needs 2. Commission special theatre consultant to develop plan for the building. The plan will inform auditorium design, theatre planning, seating system design, theatre sightlines and accessibility 3. Complete urgent works to make the building safe and accessible for all 4. Create a financial resilience plan for long term future of the organisation 5. Unlock additional funding to purchase St Columb's Hall providing long term stability for St Columb's Hall Trust