Somerset House, renowned for its enchanting winter ice rink as well as its lively summer concerts and film screenings, has unveiled a series of events in celebration of its 25-year transformation into a “hub for cultural innovators.”
The Step Inside 25 initiative invites the public to explore the entire venue, while the Talent 25 program will select five “innovative game-changers” from the Somerset House community, who will receive support for their work along with a bursary.
Within the complex, artists, creators, and entrepreneurial ventures are able to utilize its diverse workshops and studios.
Historically, the building has served various purposes, functioning as the Inland Revenue office, a Royal Navy headquarters, and even as the residence of Queen Elizabeth I.
Jonathan Reekie, the director of Somerset House, expressed that the curated program aims to showcase the “artistic innovation and interdisciplinary creativity that characterizes our identity today.”
Notable figures such as Spanish filmmaker Pedro Almodóvar, former children’s television host and current baroness Floella Benjamin, and electronic music artist Alison Goldfrapp have all acknowledged the impact Somerset House has had on their artistic journeys.
Almodóvar reminisced about the “magnificent courtyard,” where films are shown “under the stars, regardless of the weather,” calling it one of his most cherished cinematic experiences. He compared these screenings to the open-air cinema of his childhood village square, which holds a special place in his heart.
Baroness Benjamin, who contributed to a 2019 exhibition honoring black creative pioneers, referred to the venue as a “creativity nirvana.”
Similarly, Goldfrapp noted that her experiences at Somerset House “triggered a significant transformation” in her artistic work.
