Old Diorama Arts Centre

What Old Diorama Arts Centre does

Old Diorama Arts Centre (ODAC) is a registered UK charity (Charity Number 283452; Company Number 01585918) operating from 201 Drummond Street at British Land's Regent's Place campus in Euston, London. The organisation provides 11 studios and 3 offices for hire to creative professionals, theatre-makers, filmmakers, and community groups, with session pricing ranging from £20 to £100 depending on space type. Beyond commercial hire, ODAC functions as a community-led arts centre, hosting over 50 socially focused groups through its Camden Collabs network and delivering in-house programmes including the annual Regent's Roots Festival, the One Roof Festival for artists experiencing homelessness, Remix Dance for children, the Neighbourhood Makeshop, and the permanent Regent's Park Estate Story Trail (28 public artworks by 10 commissioned artists, launched April 2025). The organisation also operates the Changing Euston advocacy initiative addressing HS2-related displacement and partnerships with Arts and Homelessness International, New Diorama Theatre, and Camden People's Theatre.

ODAC's revenue model is hybrid and non-profit by design. Commercial income is generated through pay-as-you-go studio and office hire, plus a café partnership with Honest Grind Coffee (operated by Camden Council's youth employability programme) in the foyer. The larger funding base comprises grants from Arts Council England, the National Lottery Community Fund, Camden Council Culture Service, John Lyon's Charity, The Linbury Trust, The Tedworth Charitable Trust, We Make Camden, and corporate donors (Bay Media, Mulalley, CIS Security, JPC Cleaning Services). Last year, ODAC provided over 7,000 hours of free studio space to community organisations, including more than 3,900 hours worth over £170,000 to Camden Collabs groups. The 11-person team is led by Creative Director & CEO Daniel Pitt and Chair of Trustees Edward Burnett, following a 2021 leadership transition from long-serving Chair Peter James CBE. Technology is not a material component of the operating model; ODAC distributes through a Squarespace website, Instagram, WhatsApp community, monthly newsletter, and direct booking email, with the physical building serving as the primary distribution point.

Name

Old Diorama Arts Centre

Legal name

Old Diorama Arts Centre

Website

https://olddiorama.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Old Diorama Arts Centre is a London-based registered charity operating 11 studios and 3 offices in Euston, serving creative professionals, community groups, and local residents through studio hire and programmes including Camden Collabs, Regent's Roots Festival, and One Roof.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Arts Centre and Studio Hire Services

NAICS

Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712)

SIC

Services-Facilities Support Management Services (8744)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Art, Arts Councils & Grantmaking Programs (BPAGAHAH)

Keywords

• Community arts centre
• Studio hire services
• Creative space rental
• Community programmes
• Arts workshops

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Studio and Space Hire: ODAC rents out 11 studios and 3 offices to creative organisations, artists, filmmakers, and community groups. Income from hires allows the centre to support local and charitable organisations with free or subsidized space.
2. Charitable Funding and Grants: ODAC receives funding from multiple sources including Arts Council England, National Lottery Community Fund, Camden Council Culture Service, John Lyon's Charity, The Linbury Trust, The Tedworth Charitable Trust, We Make Camden, and corporate donors (Bay Media, Mulalley, CIS Security, JPC Cleaning Services).
3. Foyer Café Partnership: Honest Grind Coffee operates in the ODAC foyer, providing a revenue-sharing or rental arrangement. This generates income while providing services to visitors.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Old Diorama Arts Centre (ODAC) is a registered charity operating as a community arts centre in Euston, London. It hires out 11 studios and 3 offices to creative organisations, artists, filmmakers, and production companies at £20-£100 per session, and delivers a portfolio of free or subsidized community programmes including the Camden Collabs network of 50+ community groups, the Regent's Roots annual festival, the One Roof Festival for artists experiencing homelessness, Remix Dance classes, the Neighbourhood Makeshop, and the Regent's Park Estate Story Trail public art project.

Product overview

Old Diorama Arts Centre (ODAC) is Euston's centre for artistic creation and community action. The organization operates primarily as a studio hire facility with 11 studios and three offices available for creative projects in theatre, TV, and film. Beyond space rental, ODAC offers a portfolio of community programmes including Camden Collabs (a network of 50+ community groups receiving free studio space), the annual Regent's Roots Festival, the One Roof Festival for artists experiencing homelessness, Remix Dance for children, the Neighbourhood Makeshop, and the Regent's Park Estate Story Trail public art project. The centre also hosts advocacy initiatives like Changing Euston and provides amenities including Honest Grind Coffee in its foyer. The offering functions as a platform of community-facing programmes built around its core physical space hire service.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Studio Hire - Premium Suite The largest and most versatile studio at ODAC, designed to accommodate large-scale projects and mid-to-long-term exclusive hires. Priced at £100 per session.
• Studio Hire - Large Studios Four Large Studios at ODAC, each measuring at least 8.5m x 8.5m, capable of accommodating bookings for 40+ attendees. Priced at £50 per session.
• Studio Hire - Medium Studios Four Medium Studios on ground and first floor, measuring 9m x 6.5m, accommodating 20-30 people for rehearsals or classes. Priced at £40 per session.
• Studio Hire - Casting Studio Fully accessible first-floor casting studio equipped with softbox lights, carpeted floors, and furniture. Priced at £40 per session.
• Studio Hire - Neighbourhood Studio Versatile and comfortable room formerly called Casting 1, used predominantly by local community groups. Priced at £45 per session.
• Office Space Hire Private office spaces suitable for small production offices, hot desk or team meetings. Offices 1 and 2 available at £25 and £20 per session respectively.
• Camden Collabs Growing network of local, community-led, arts-focused groups, projects, and charities based at ODAC. Provides free studio space to help these initiatives thrive. Over 50 groups use ODAC as a base for socially focused arts work.
• Regent's Roots Festival Annual community and arts summer festival produced by ODAC and Fitzrovia Youth in Action, celebrating diverse cultures and communities in Euston. Features performances, workshops, and community activities. Regent's Roots 2025 attracted over 1,000 attendees.
• One Roof Festival and Programme Creation festival for artists with experience of homelessness, featuring free creative workshops, open studio sessions, ukulele jam sessions, and open mic nights. Expanded to year-round weekly sessions.
• Regent's Park Estate Story Trail Permanent, resident-led public art trail through Regent's Park Estate featuring 28 site-specific installations created by 10 commissioned artists and collectives.
• Remix Dance Community dance project delivering free weekly Street Dance classes and performance opportunities to children and young people aged 5-16 from Regent's Park Estate and the local area.
• Neighbourhood Makeshop Creative DIY and messy play space fulfilling long-held ambitions among local residents, offering hands-on crafting and making activities.
• Arts & Homelessness Programme ODAC's programme supporting those with No Fixed Abode or experiencing homelessness, including partnerships with Arts & Homelessness International (AHI) and hosting the Drummond Street Artists workshop for artists affected by homelessness.
• Changing Euston Project using creativity to make tangible difference in areas undergoing massive structural change due to HS2 and wider regeneration. Amplifies resident voices through creative collaboration.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 7,000 hours of free studio space provided to community organisations last year
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered major, minor and core.

• Somers Town Community AssociationmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Community partner in Euston housing research and community-powered neighbourhood projects. Collaboration on Blueprints festival and community governance workshops.
• Hopscotch Women's CentremajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Community partner in housing research and community programmes. Located at Euston Community Hub. Collaboration on community engagement projects.
• Community Champions Regent's Park EstatemajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Resident-led project connecting residents and exploring issues. Partner on Regent's Roots festival and Story Trail project. Community organizing on the estate.
• Honest Grind CoffeeminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Radical employability programme and speciality coffee roastery operated by Camden Council's Integrated Youth Support Service. Located in ODAC foyer, open 7 days per week. Partnership provides services to visitors while supporting youth employment.
• Arts and Homelessness International (AHI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022ODAC became an associate member in 2022. Partnership includes hosting AHI Leadership Scheme showcase, AHI is now resident at ODAC. ODAC participates in AHI's Send a Smile project and quarterly scratch nights.
• Fitzrovia Youth In Action (FYA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-producer of Regent's Roots Festival and key partner in community research projects. FYA is Camden's leading social action charity working with young people. Partnership includes youth-led research on housing and community programmes.
• New Diorama TheatrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRehearsal partner for Camden Youth Theatre. Long-term neighbour at Regent's Place campus. ODAC and New Diorama have found permanent home together at British Land's Regent's Place.
• Camden People's TheatrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on 'Developed on Drummond Street' commissioning project and Camden Youth Theatre. Collaborative projects exploring new ways of making work with Camden residents.
• Regent's Place (British Land)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCampus partner providing ODAC's permanent home. Partnership enables ODAC to maintain long-term presence in Euston area. Collaborates on community initiatives and social value programmes.
• The RoundhouseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFestival partner in Regent's Roots, providing circus workshops at the annual community festival. Camden's iconic music and arts venue supporting young people.
• Camden Community Centres' Consortium (C4)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsortium of 18 community organisations. More than 25,000 people access support from member organisations weekly. ODAC participates in the consortium network.
• Regent's Park Estate Story Trail Artists and CollectivesminorStrategic or Co-development Partner10 commissioned artists and collectives created 28 public artworks through community collaboration on the Story Trail project.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Southbank Centre: One of the UK's largest arts centre operators, running multiple venues, festivals, and community programmes. Overlaps with ODAC's mission of arts accessibility and community engagement but at vastly larger scale and with broader scope.
• Barbican Centre: Major London arts centre with extensive studio and performance space plus community programmes. Operates as a broader incumbent with overlapping capabilities but a much wider portfolio than ODAC's focused community-arts model.

Direct peers

• New Diorama Theatre: Independent theatre venue co-located with ODAC at British Land's Regent's Place campus. It operates an adjacent studio/hire and community programme model and is a long-term strategic partner of ODAC for Camden Youth Theatre. Most directly comparable peer.
• Rich Mix: East London multi-arts centre combining studio space, performance venues, and community programmes. Closely comparable operating model: charitable arts centre with paid space hire supporting free community and creative programmes.
• The Roundhouse: Iconic Camden music and arts venue with strong youth and community programming. Partners with ODAC on Regent's Roots and youth circus workshops. Operates a similar dual model of venue hire and charitable community programmes.
• Camden People's Theatre: Euston-based community theatre that partners with ODAC on co-commissioning and Camden Youth Theatre. Similar mission-driven, small-scale, community-focused programming and venue operation targeting Camden residents.
• Battersea Arts Centre: Large community arts centre with a comparable mix of studio hire, community programming, festivals, and social-mission focus. Operates at significantly larger scale but with the same combination of commercial hire and grant-funded community work.

Others

• Arts and Homelessness International (AHI): International sector body for arts and homelessness work. ODAC is an associate member and AHI is now resident at the centre. Not a competitor but the definitive peer reference for ODAC's specialist arts-and-homelessness programming.
• Camden Community Centres' Consortium (C4): Consortium of 18 Camden community organisations serving 25,000+ residents weekly. ODAC is a member peer. Comparable as a community-coordination partner rather than a direct competitor, but helpful for benchmarking community reach and impact.

Emerging players

• Theatre Deli: Independent theatre and arts space with studios and community programmes in London. Comparable mission-driven model of subsidised space for emerging artists and community groups, though smaller and more venue-focused.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/olddiorama
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/old-diorama

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Old Diorama Arts Centre