FortyTwo Studio – 35... At last

Apocalypse Now

Finnegans Wake

John Cage’s ORGAN2/ASLSP

These are all creative endeavours that took far too long to complete and for a long while, our very own new studio seemed to be suffering the same fate. OK, I’m exaggerating a little, after all Martin Sheen nearly died filming Coppola’s masterpiece and they are still performing John Cage’s piece and won’t finish until 2640! However, we’ve had our own dramas, delays and complications over the months with our refurb that have halted our move a number of times… even if it’s without the helicopters in the jungle.

Back before COVID, when all the number 19 meant to us was a Paul Hardcastle song (well some of us of a certain 80s vintage may remember), we made plans for not only a cool new home for FortyTwo but also for the beginnings of a creative hub. A place where creative students, practitioners and organisations could co-exist, collaborate and help create the kind of commercial creative community this region needs.

To play a small part in this idea, was all we sought, and things were going our way to begin with. We found the perfect building, began to build real support amongst some creative organisations and plans were moving fast… then… well we all know what happened - pandemic, lockdowns, changing priorities and far more important concerns for us all to deal with.

But we were resolute. We stuck to our vision, our plans remained the same and even if timescales shifted several times, we remained as determined as ever to get this hub started - beginning with our own studio space.

On the 27th February, we were delighted and a little relieved to say that our studio was ready for us designers, developers and marketeers. We are in, making it our home at last. Beautifully fitted out by Polka and CKG Joinery, our new space at 35 Mid Stocket Road, will allow us to grow as a team, develop as a business and begin to fulfil our longer term plans for the creative hub with real purpose. Watch this space.

Why not pop down for a coffee and a wee tour sometime? Actually, perhaps give us a couple of weeks first, we're still trying to find the spoons and work out how to use the central heating.

Phew! We made it and can’t be happier now we’re here.

P.S. We are still advocates of hybrid working - very much so - but I’m sure we’ve all learned that if you do have a workplace to go to - even if it’s 1 day a week - it must be a great space that inspires and encourages great collaborative work to be created. We know 35 is that space for us and hope it will be for others.