About Us
Wycombe Arts Centre is....
… the name of the collaborative arts centre based at the former St John’s Church buildings in High Wycombe Town Centre on Desborough Road.
… a set of unique ‘for hire’ spaces that we call the Cafe Space and the Theatre Space (an amazing Grade 2 listed building), specialising in alternative arts events.
… an open collective of local people who are inspired by creativity, including musicians, artists, theatre groups and more!
… the brand name of Wycombe Community Arts Centre Ltd (registered charity no. 1136161).
… funded by events and hires, run mainly by volunteers and supported by Buckinghamshire Council, who own the buildings.
Our Mission
Our goal is to offer a wide range of quality artistic events and participatory opportunities for artists, writers, musicians, actors, dancers and other creatives in the local area. We do this by:
- Providing a welcoming arts centre for all visitors.
- Presenting accesible, quality entertainment.
- Providing support and activities for local professional and amateur creative communities.
- Creating participatory learning opportunities for the general public.
- Implementing a creative network.
- Making positive connections.
- Engaging visitors, customers, staff and volunteers .
- Fundraising including via sponsorships and outside grants (e.g. Arts Council).
- Maintaining the buildings, grounds and services to a high standard.
- Ensuring long-term sustainability and future growth.
Think you can you help? We’d love to hear from you!
About High Wycombe
High Wycombe is a market town in Buckinghamshire, halfway between London and Oxford. Nestled alongside the River Wye in The Chiltern Hills — an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty — its semi-rural surroundings have inspired a rich history of skilled workers and talented makers.
Wycombe was first famous for its Mills manufacturing paper and flour, until the industrial revolution led to the town becoming famous for its thriving furniture industry.
Later on, during the early half of the 20th century, Wycombe’s factories made over 8,500 Mosquitos for the RAF, while nearby Hughenden housed dozens of top-secret map-makers.
We’re very aware of our rich heritage of award-winning artists and pop cultural icons, and we’re proud to showcase some of the newest and freshest talent that High Wycombe has to offer.
For more info on the town, visit the South East England tourist website.
Painting by Jan Gaska