Sadler’s Wells East (via architecturetoday)

Sadler's Wells East has quickly become a key part of the cultural scene at London's Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. This exciting new space is all about dance, with six rehearsal studios and a 550-seat auditorium. It also offers a range of facilities designed specifically for creative professionals, including a lounge, work studios, and dedicated performance spaces. As Rowan Moore put it in The Guardian, it's a "powerhouse for dance," helping to establish Stratford as a major centre for this dynamic art form.

Sadler's Wells East is a prime example of a wider movement across the UK, where all sorts of spaces are being transformed to support and nurture young creatives, their work, and the communities they connect with. This trend is anything but negative; it's revitalising culture, the arts, and creativity, while also generating significant economic value. The people at the forefront of this are often familiar faces on platforms like Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts, seamlessly blending fashion and technology, mixing the humanities with pop culture, and forging new paths for creative expression. Does this mean these everyday creators are actually shaping our cities?

For cities to really thrive, they need to be in tune with this lively creative beat. Owning space in a city is not essential for artistic expression. In a place like London, where property is incredibly expensive, owning a place becomes less important. Instead, there are loads of adaptable spaces available for flexible use. Artists can rehearse in hired dance studios, put on community events in private venues, and make use of the many day-use offices dotted around the city. This easy movement between different settings lets creatives turn the whole city into their stage.

In line with this vision, SpaceCloud is set to launch its beta service this April 2025. Our aim is simple: to create a world where creators can easily turn the city into their stage, without the hassle of owning a place. We are inspired by spaces that are both practical and inspiring, where people can dance, sing, meet up, work, and really thrive. We invite you to join us and list your space, as we work to empower the people shaping the future of UK creativity by giving them the platform they need to flourish.