The New Cultural Quarter and Performing Arts Centre


A magnet for the College’s creative community...

The most ambitious building project we have undertaken in many years, the new Cultural Quarter will be a stunning addition to the cultural life of the College and the wider community.

PROJECT COST: £13.9M

Project Target Achieved

Fundraising is now complete and work on this ambitious project has commenced with a projected opening November 2017. £10.9m has been raised by the generosity of parents and OWs and £3m has been funded by the College.

 

The vibrant Cultural Quarter will open up a myriad of possibilities, embracing the benefits of an holistic education and providing a cultural laboratory where students can experiment, create, perform and engage with their peers. It will be home to the new Performing Arts Centre – housing the Performance Auditorium and Cultural Living Room – set within a beautiful landscape including gardens, walkways, and a central ‘plaza’ that will become both a cultural and social hub for the College.

 

One of the best 27 buildings on the planet

The designs that have been developed by Architects Studio Seilern have been awarded the winner in the ‘Best Building in Education’ category at the World Architecture Festival in November 2015 and is included as one of the best 27 buildings on the planet.

PERFORMANCE AUDITORIUM AND THE CULTURAL LIVING ROOM

A state-of-the-art performance space – part concert hall, part theatre, part opera house – where we can put on large-scale concerts, musicals and plays, and a multi-performance and exhibition space where activities will be driven by the students.

Imagine the possibilities… Ballet with a live orchestra; joint events with the local music community and with our partner schools; visiting orchestras; rock concerts and much more. It will also release much needed space in our current theatre for additional dance and rehearsal facilities, and will become the building where the entire College can come together. The Cultural Living Room will become another vibrant social hub for the campus where creative arts, events, exhibitions and student life are allowed to occur spontaneously.

The Cultural Quarter

Naming Opportunities

To show our appreciation of your support we have provided a number of opportunities to name elements of projects and programmes. By doing this we remind the wider community how essential philanthropic support is to the College.

Theatre seats are £500, flagstones in the Cultural Plaza £1,000 and trees are £1,500. There are also opportunities to name various areas of the new complex.

Latest News

Angus Neale (Bn 18) completes the Marathon des Sables in memory of Haydn Robarts (Bn 18)

05 May 2026

In March, we shared that Angus Neale (Bn 18) would be running the Marathon des Sables in memory of his friend and fellow OW, Haydn Robarts (Bn 18). It is a self-supported, 270km race which takes place over seven days in the Moroccan Sahara. Crossing desert dunes in ferocious heat, it has been dubbed the […]

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Adam Wilkie (Bn 11): In My Father’s Lane

21 April 2026

Old Wellingtonian, Adam Wilkie (Bn 2006-11), son of Olympic champion David Wilkie MBE, has quit his job to take on an extraordinary challenge: to match his father’s world record-breaking 200m breaststroke time – 50 years after it made history, and just two years after his father’s death from cancer. David Wilkie was one of the […]

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OWs Deliver Life-Saving Medical Supplies to Ukraine

16 April 2026

In December 2025, Neil Polley (Pn 75) and Christopher Hill (Pn 75) drove more than 3,000km across Europe to Lviv, Ukraine, delivering medical supplies and support vehicles to those working on the front line.  Neil and Christopher volunteered with Driving Ukraine, a charity established in 2022 that has organised 54 convoys to date. The organisation provides vehicles, medical […]

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Upcoming Events

12 May 2026

Creative Industries Networking Evening

The Other House, South Kensington, London

 

 

One of our most popular networking evenings, this event brings together parents, OWs and Sixth Form students working in or interested careers in the creative industries. Tickets are complimentary and include welcome drinks and canapés. Click here to see the current guest list.

Wellington pupils interested in attending this event must register with Mr Webber, Head of Careers, via jmw@wellingtoncollege.org.uk

Book your place »

16 May 2026

Wellington Parent Choir

Concert Room, Wellington College

 

 

Saturday 16th May 11:00am-12:00pm

The Wellington Community invite you to join the informal and fun Wellington Parent Choir, led by our inspirational Director of Music Simon Williamson. Designed for singers of all abilities. To register your place please email: community@wellingtoncollege.org.uk


03 June 2026

Wellington Wildlife and Grounds Walking Tour

V&A, Wellington College

 

 

Wellington College Grounds and Gardens Manager, Mark Dodd, will lead a tour of the College’s grounds, offering fascinating insights into the delights and challenges of maintaining this 440-acre estate. He will share how his team manages wildlife conservation, landscaping, and the diverse array of plants across the site.

Mark will also guide us through the College’s nature reserve and Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)—a remarkable beacon of biodiversity containing nationally scarce habitats and species. He will explain the conservation efforts that protect this unique ecosystem and the wonderful wildlife that thrives within it.

 

Book your place »

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