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Hiring Infomation
The Riverside Arts Centre (RAC) is a volunteer operated facility. It does not employed any staff and is available as a ‘leave as you find’ basis.
RAC offers two auditoria and several meeting rooms. In addition there is a Craft Centre in an adjacent building. Both auditoria offer level access and the meeting rooms can be accessed using a lift which can accommodate a wheelchair. WCs and adapted WCs are available in all areas except in The Craft Centre where two WCs are provided. All three spaces are available for hire-see our Notes for Hirers and all bookings, to be made via our Booking Secretary, are subject to our Conditions of Hire.
RAC does not promote events, the Hirer is responsible for all aspects of any event he/she holds at RAC. Technical guidance can be provided if needed but the Hirer is responsible for the safe operation of all the facilities and the security of the premises.
Both auditoria are air conditioned and are comprehensively provided with sound and lighting equipment. An induction loop system to aid hearing impaired audience members is installed in the Main |Hall.
There is a licenced bar, operated by the RAC club on request (and subject to volunteer bar staff being available), which is accessible from all areas. There is a coffee bar leading off the rear of the Main Hall. Tea, coffee and light refreshments can be prepared in this area.
Both auditoria have local dressing rooms and both have associated kitchen areas with crockery and cutlery available.
A commercial gas cooker installed in the kitchen area associated with The Main Hall.
A yard to enable items for use in the Arts Centre to be offloaded and collected is available but the space is not a car parking area.
The daily calendar is divided into three time slots:
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AM - 09:00 - 13:00
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PM - 14:00 - 18:00
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Eve - 19:00 - 23:00
The hour gap between each slot is provisioned to allow 30 minutes for a departing group to vacate a space and 30 minutes for the arriving group to set up.
There is no provision for a group to have access to a space prior to 30 minutes before the beginning of its hire period.
If you wish/need to change a time slot it must be agreed in advance with the Booking Secretary.
Main Hall / Auditorium
The Main Hall is approximately 60ftx 25ft (18.3x7.6meters).
It has a polished woodblock floor, is centrally heated and can be air-conditioned in summer months. It is comprehensively provided with audio, video and stage lighting equipment.
The licensed audience capacity of the Hall is up to 160 people though more typically it seats an audience of 143 on raked seating. The raked seating can set up when agreed for events lasting at least 3 days and providing sufficient volunteers will be available for its erection and disassembly.
The Studio
The Studio is about 30ft x30ft ( 10x10 metres) and has a sprung wood strip floor. It is a self-contained space and operates independently of The Main Hall.
It is heated and has air conditioning.
It has a licensed capacity of up to 80 audience members. Among its many uses The Studio is particularly suited to dance and ‘Theatre in the Round’ events. There is picture hanging rail for art/photographic exhibitions.
It has audio, video and theatrical lighting facilities.
There is an upright piano in The Studio.
Level access to The Studio is via a side door, otherwise it is entered via the Main Entrance of RAC and through the bar.
Craft Centre
The Craft Studio is in a separate building across a yard from the main building. The building dates from about 1850 and The Craft Studio was the house of a habitation, which included stables and a large wagon/carriage shed, on the site.
The ground floor is set up a pottery workshop including a potter’s wheel. There is an electric kiln in an adjacent building.
The upper floor is a long gallery, 16ft x24ft ( 5x7.5metres) with two roof lights making it particularly suited to art and painting activities. There is a sink with hot water and tea and coffee making facilities.
The space is heated by electric storage heaters.
There are two WCs on the ground floor.
Coleman Room
Meeting room on the first floor that is sutable for meetings, small rehersals, readings, music practice. The Coleman rooms is equipt with a piano, seating and tables and is constently ready for use.
Bank Room
The larger meeting room on the first floor that is sutable for meetings, music practice, readings and rehersals. This room is equipt with seating, a piano and a small kitchen.
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Finding us
57-59 Thames Street,
Sunbury-on-Thames,
TW16 5QF
