Space, Place, and the Holbeck: exploring the challenges of managing a community venue through the perspective of an artist-turned-manager in Slung Low’s tenure at the Holbeck social club

This dissertation explores an alternative framework for considering the relationship between arts
venues and their communities through academic theories on space and place-making. I look at what is
meant by the terms ‘space’ and ‘place’ and draw my definitions from the work of Henri Lefebvre,
Lucy Lippard, and Tim Cresswell. From here I move on to examine the theory put forward by
architect Bernard Tschumi as an alternative taxonomy for relating a space to its function (termed
‘program’). For my case study I take the Holbeck in Leeds, a working-men’s club run and managed as
an arts centre (and a social club) by theatre company Slung Low. I posit that the Holbeck can be
considered a crossprogrammed space, by applying Tschumi’s concepts, drawing on my own interview
with Slung Low’s artistic director Alan Lane. The second half of my work introduces the idea of
hospitality and offers the term ‘welcoming’ as a more appropriate and less contentious way of
discussing how venues interact with their community, beginning with Jacques Derrida’s work as a
starting point. Bringing in critique of Derrida, I move on to consider the Holbeck in greater detail,
utilising all the theories and terms I have introduced throughout the dissertation. I suggest the benefits
and potential drawbacks of running arts organisations, such as theatre companies, in community
venues, which are not purpose-built for this ‘program.’ Introducing this framework, I lay the
foundation for future research into the effectiveness of alternative venues, and spatial practices, for
arts organisation in engaging their local communities.