Kings Place marks 15 years
Florence Lockheart
Thursday, November 2, 2023
The King's Cross concert venue is celebrating the anniversary with new partnerships and the continuation of its d&b audiotechnik Soundscape
![12 Ensemble at Kings Place © Viktor Erik Emanuel](/media/245845/12-ensemble-ex-ray-viktor-e-emanuel.jpg?&width=780&quality=60)
Kings Place, a concert venue in London’s King’s Cross is set to celebrate its 15th anniversary this season. With new partnerships and a renewed focus on talent development, the season will also see the extension of the venue’s partnership with d&b audiotechnik, offering further concerts using the technology to allow artists to amplify and manipulate immersive sound throughout their performances.
The upcoming season includes new partnerships with organisations including event producer and digital platform Marsm, promoting artists from South-West Asia and North Africa, and Acland Burghley School, providing the school’s Dreamchasing Young Producers initiative with hands-on technical and production insight. The venue will also continue its collaborations with Alan Bearman Music, The Spontaneity Shop as well as donating rehearsal and performance space to music education charities.
Executive chair Peter Millican OBE said: 'At the millennium Kings Place was a dream in my head. I wanted to animate an office building with free public space, and to support performing arts through business events. 15 years later it is a much-loved and respected arts hub in the vibrant Kings Cross quarter. It has been an astonishing journey made possible by many remarkable people who have devoted themselves to creating an exceptional place for performers and for the many thousands of our multicultural audience who come to our concerts, talks and events.'
Since opening in 2008, Kings Place has presented over 500 world and UK premiere performances and commissioned or co-commissioned 19 works. The 2024 season is set to feature new commissions from Anna Meredith, Jasdeep Singh Degun, LVRA, Donald Grant, Aileen Sweeney, Ninfea Crutwell Reade and Helen Grime. Next year the venue is set to continue its ‘Unwrapped’ festival series with Scotland Unwrapped, with Karine Polwart as artist in residence and Jackie Kay and Aidan O’Rourke as guest curators.
Executive and artistic director Helen Wallace said: ‘I've been involved with Kings Place since 2009, becoming Programme Director in 2018. It's always had a young energy and an independent spirit which has blossomed into a highly distinctive offering. Openness and intimacy were built into its design, and I've witnessed how that encourages connection and sparks creativity.’