Bold Tendencies

BOLD TENDENCIES

Since 2007 the rooftop spaces at Peckham Multi-Storey Car Park have been home to not-for-profit organisation Bold Tendencies which is unique in terms of the rich mix of what it does, and where and how it does it.

Bold Tendencies supports artists to develop their ideas and to realise site-specific projects. We commission new visual art — 114 works have been shown here to date — and produce a live programme of music, dance and opera.

The Live Programme takes place in our covered spaces, deliberately preserving 42,000 sq ft of raw concrete floors and ceilings with panoramic London views.

Bold Tendencies has also commissioned new architecture for the site — Frank’s Cafe in 2009, the Straw Auditorium in 2010, and the Peckham Observatory in 2017.

Bold Tendencies is for everyone. We have welcomed more than 2 million people in 13 summer seasons since 2007.

We animate the programme and the site for the neighbourhood through standalone education and community initiatives that take culture and civic values seriously.

Bold Tendencies celebrates the free enjoyment of public space in the city, participation in a rich, experimental programme and open access to this special, spectacular place.

OUR BUILDING

Peckham Multi-Storey car park was commissioned in 1980 by Sainsbury’s Supermarkets. Designed and eventually built in 1982 by their in-house Architect and Engineers Department, the 700-space car park stood with exposed concrete frame and brick cladding, very much the style of its day. The car park was built to service as a brand new style of self-service supermarket, replacing the traditional counter-store branch that had operated on Rye Lane since 1931 (now Clark’s Shoe Shop).

In November 1982 the Sainsbury’s counter shop closed, the last ever counter service. On the last day of the same month, its replacement supermarket opened its doors to the public. With a sales area of 17,094 sq ft, it was eight times the size of the old store.

Photo: London Viewpoints

After 10 years Sainsbury’s moved in 1992 to its present location on Dog Kennel Hill. Two years later in 1994 the Rye Lane site was transformed into a cinema – Peckhamplex – which has occupied the space of the former Peckham supermarket ever since. From then on, the adjoining car park infrastructure was underused, eventually disused, and the top four floors were closed from public access.

Bold Tendencies was started in 2007 with the support and encouragement of Russell Profitt and David Strevens at Southwark Council. The top floors of the car park were reopened to the public as a sculpture exhibition and Bold Tendencies was established as a not-for-profit organisation. It has since developed an annual summer season of site-specific art, new architecture and live events.

In 2017, Bold Tendencies reached an agreement with Southwark Council for a new long-term lease. The car park was taken off the local area redevelopment plan, solidifying the cultural status of the building for years to come and guaranteeing Bold Tendencies a secure future in its home in these unique spaces.

OUR TEAM

Chief Executive
Hannah Barry

Managing Director
Diana Cordoba Barrios

Site and Production Manager
Tom Kelly

Admin and Operations
Marianna Turri

Artist Liaison
Charlie Mills

Site Liaison
Donatienne Ferré

Visitor Services and Art Trainee Coordinator
Jerusha Morgan

Digital Services
Jacob Hewes

OUR BOARD

Helen Newman

Tom Dingle

Zia Zareem-Slade