Facilities
We have a wide range of facilities for our studio residents and local community.
On this page
Studios
Our studios are home to fourteen local artists and creative organisations. We make sure they are as affordable as possible, we currently charge 76p per square foot per month and studio sizes range from 148 square feet to 210 square feet. We don’t have any available at the moment but you can contact us to go on our waiting list.
Risograph
Once you are inducted on our risograph printer you can book onto our open access sessions to print your own projects. We also provide a service for small-run publications and prints. You can print up to A3 and the colours we have are black, orange, fluorescent pink, yellow, green, blue and red. All of our open access sessions will be on our calendar soon, for risograph enquires email info@theoldwaterworks.com
Library
The library and research space is the result of a TOW commission between the Agency of Visible Women (AoVW) and Grrrl Zine Fair. It houses a growing collection of books suggested by AoVW members, the Grrrl Zine Library—a collection of over 700 feminist and LGBTQIA* specific zines—and contemporary art books, published artist’s books and art journals. We hope it will continue to be an invaluable resource for the local community, artists and students, providing access to material otherwise inaccessible or difficult to source here in Southend.
Cinema
Our 40 seat cinema hosts weekly Wednesday night screenings from our studio residents the White Bus, on their 35mm and 16mm projectors. Additionally we have a digital projector, speakers and black-out blinds. We also use this space for workshops, exhibitions, meetings and events.
Venue Hire
We hire out The Old Waterworks for screenings, workshops, events and private functions.
There are three public spaces available to hire:
Terms of Use
The Old Waterworks is a working artist studio. Our artists have 24 hour access to the site and their studio spaces. We are a friendly community with a communal garden space and we ask that you respect our resident artists, neighbours and space by:
- Leaving the space as you found it
- Cleaning and putting away any equipment you have used
- Not putting drinks or food on any of our equipment or library materials, anything damaged must be replaced.
- Respecting our artists’ privacy and not attempting to gain entry to their private spaces
- Leaving quietly if your event finishes after 9pm
All spaces are available from 9am to 10.30pm. Prices are inclusive of a fee for a member of staff to be available to open and close the space for you.
All spaces can make use of our kitchen and toilet facilities. Please be aware that our toilets are not fully access friendly and this is something we are hoping to change in the near future. You can make use of our large capacity tea urn, kettle and toasters, however you will need to supply your own tea, coffee, sugar and milk etc.
As a community space, our garden is also available for you to gather in. Our garden houses a collection of plants being used specifically for artists’ projects. Feel free to admire the plants, but please be careful not to damage them.
Smoking is only permitted adjacent to the blue container in the car park. Please do not smoke by the entrance and exit points within the garden area.
Please be aware that COVID restrictions are still in place for indoor events and that this information may change subject to government guidelines.
Further Information
You will need to pay a deposit of £50 which will be returned after your event.
A discount is available for regular or consecutive bookings, please contact us with further details to see what we can offer.
We do not provide staffing for events. Any staffing requirements will be charged as above.
You will need to be insured for any public liability as the host of your event.
Any events or activities you have planned that take place with children, young people or vulnerable adults must adhere to our safeguarding policy. Children, young people and vulnerable adults must be accompanied by a carer or parent at all times and the carer or parent is solely responsible for the safety of their child, children, young person or vulnerable adult. You should hold an up to date DBS certificate if you wish to host any event with children, young people or vulnerable adults. We will supply you with our policy when you make a provisional booking.
There are 10 parking spaces available at The Old Waterworks, with additional street parking in the roads surrounding TOW.
To make a booking or find out more please send us email using the link below.
Screening Room
The screening room has a seated capacity of 40 people, with black out blinds, a digital projector and speakers. There is a small fee for the use of our digital projector and speakers. Additionally available are 35mm and 16mm projectors owned and operated by our studio residents The White Bus. An additional fee is applicable should you wish to screen a film using the White Bus film projectors and projectionist; booking well in advance is advised. The space is multi-purpose and can be arranged for screenings, workshops, life drawing and other purposes, tables are available. Please email us if you would like to visit the space in advance, have any questions or require further images.
Pricing
Offers are available if multiple spaces are required, please contact us for a bespoke quote.
| Item | Hourly Rate | Half Day Rate (4 hours) | Day Rate (8 hours) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Screening Room | £15/hr £20/hr weekends or after 6pm | £60 £80 at weekends | £120 £160 at weekends |
| AV Equipment (digital projector, speakers) | £5/hr | £10 | £20 |
| White bus cinema film projectors and projectionist | N/A | £100 | £200 |
| Staffing | £18.75/hr per person for TOW to staff events + £25 fee on weekends and after 6pm for open and close |
Library / Main Space
The Old Waterworks has a growing collection of publications and zines. This space has large tables ideal for workshops, and holds our risograph community printing press. The space can be used for meetings, workshops and printing, or can be used as a function space. Please email us if you would like to visit the space in advance or have any questions.
Please be aware that this space provides direct access to private studios and artists have 24 hour access to their spaces.
Pricing
Offers are available if multiple spaces are required, please contact us for a bespoke quote.
| Item | Hourly Rate | Half Day Rate (4 hours) | Day Rate (8 hours) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Library / Main Space | £15/hr £20/hr weekends or after 6pm | £60 £80 at weekends | £120 £160 at weekends |
| Staffing | £18.75/hr per person for TOW to staff events + £25 fee on weekends and after 6pm for open and close |
Print Room
The print room can be hired as a workshop space ideal for printing. We have an exposure unit and large print workspace. It can also be used as an overspill from the main space if you need more capacity. Some of our studio artists deliver specific printmaking workshops and can be approached if you would like someone to deliver a workshop for you. Please email us if you would like to visit the space in advance or have any questions.
Please be aware that this space provides direct access to private studios and artists have 24 hour access to their spaces.
Pricing
Offers are available if multiple spaces are required, please contact us for a bespoke quote.
| Item | Hourly Rate | Half Day Rate (4 hours) | Day Rate (8 hours) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Print Room | £15/hr £20/hr weekends or after 6pm | £60 £80 at weekends | £120 £160 at weekends |
| Staffing | £18.75/hr per person for TOW to staff events + £25 fee on weekends and after 6pm for open and close |
image credits: Anna Lukala