Norwich University of the Arts acquires 20 Bank Plain

The newly acquired space opens up exciting possibilities for teaching, exhibitions, student services, as well as offering an enhanced social space.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Simon Ofield-Kerr said: “Acquiring this landmark building signals our ambition for the future of the University as an international centre of excellence in creative arts and technologies.”

The Grade II listed building in a prominent position at the top of Prince of Wales Road was once home to the newly founded Barclays Bank in 1775, and more recently home to the OPEN Youth Trust.

It will become the University’s 12th building in the creative quarter of the city, following the opening in September 2021 of Duke Street Riverside, which itself provides a new production theatre, performance spaces, teaching studios, student accommodation and public space on the River Wensum.

Professor Ofield-Kerr said: “Part of 20 Bank Plain’s appeal is the impressive interior — particularly the vast banking hall — which opens up exciting possibilities as a potential exhibition, library, studio, and production space. It provides the opportunity to create spaces that combine teaching, research, exhibition and collection and public access way beyond our existing estate and will become an important centre for both the university and the city.”

In other parts of the building, the University’s Student Services will be brought together to create a support hub. The thriving student population will be able access all support and wellbeing services in one location and the new space will enable further improvements to meet all student needs. Bank Plain will also have space and facilities for Norwich University of the Arts Students’ Union, the University café (provided by social enterprise The Feed) and extensive social space, including the already in place climbing wall.

Professor Ofield-Kerr added: “The creative industries contribute £115.9bn in gross value add to the UK economy a year — which is greater than aerospace, automotive, life sciences and oil and gas sectors combined.

“All forms of science, technology and business require creativity. Our belief is that creative practitioners play an essential role in understanding and interpreting what is happening in the world today, imagining and producing better ways of living in the future through the use of established and emerging technologies.

“Combining existing services and bringing new resources into Bank Plain creates opportunities to expand the workshops we need as we develop new courses in Creative Computing and Creative Technology, alongside our world-renowned courses in Games Design.

“We are very grateful to Graham Dacre of the Lind Trust for making the property available to the University as a continued provision for young people in the city and region.”

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