ARC, Stockton Arts Centre

We also have an extensive programme of creative activity for people to take part in, and provide support and development opportunities for professional performance artists.

If you would like to use our fabulous facilities to host meetings, training sessions, conferences or performances by local people, please get in touch.

Venue

The entrance to ARC is level with the street and there is level access throughout the ground floor: between the entrance, the box office, No 60 café, the ground level toilets and the lift. The ground floor has a marble tiled surface.

There is both public and service lift access to all floors in the building which range from basement to third floor. Each floor has level access to all areas. There is a mix of carpeted, wooden and tiled floor areas throughout the building.
No 60 is a spacious café and bar with square tables and chairs, which can be arranged to suit the event or occasion. When busy, staff offer accessible table service for disabled guests.

Performance Spaces

ARC has three performance spaces, all of which have seating access for wheelchair users. The Studio Theatre has level access on the third floor, and can be accessed by lift or by stairs, for people who do not use lifts. The Point is a large flexible space on the first floor, which has ramped access in one of the main entrances to the space, with steps at the other. There are also wheelchair accessible boxes on the second floor. The Theatre space has level access on the ground floor. There is raked seating, but the wheelchair accessible seats are on level access. We advise that tickets are booked in advance with notice of any access requirements, as seating arrangements can often change with each event, depending on the nature of the performance. Photographs are available on the website to view each space or we can provide further information should you require it.

Participatory Spaces and Meeting Rooms

We have a number of accessible spaces available for workshops, meetings which can be hired, but are also used for our creative participatory programmes. The Workshop and Dance Studio are in the basement and are flexible accessible spaces. Photographs are available on the website to view each space or we can provide further information should you require it.

Outlets and Amenities

Box Office is on the ground floor close to the entrance. There are wheelchair accessible toilets on each of the five floors of ARC. Each set of general toilets have accessible toilets for people with mobility requirements. No 60 Café Bar operates over the ground and first floors depending on how busy it is, with main service on the ground floor. Orders are generally made at the bar with food and drink brought to your table. Accessible arrangements can be made with the bar during busy events.

Audio Description

Many of our cinema screenings have an audio description facility. Please let us know when booking your tickets.

BSL Interpreted Performances

A number of our theatre productions are BSL interpreted and we are increasingly asking artists to factor this in when planning their work. Please check our What's On sections. If you could let us know your requirements when booking tickets, we can ensure that suitable sets are reserved to meet your requirements, for example, BSL sightlines, lip reading etc.

Relaxed Performances and Screenings

This season we have introduced a number of daytime family theatre performances and cinema screenings designed to make trips to ARC a more relaxed experience for learning disabled people, people with autism and people with sensory or neurological conditions. Relaxed performances have a number of distinguishing features:

• lower volume levels

• no foyer music

• consistent lighting with auditorium lights on throughout

• there is a relaxed attitude to noise and moving around the auditorium

• you can reserve extra seats if you need space to be comfortable

• we won't ask to see tickets until you are in your seats

• if you prefer not to queue please let us know when you are booking

• we can provide a chill out space should you need a break

Quiet Space

We can provide a quiet space for some of our events, in case you need to take a break, so please do let us know when you're booking your ticket that you might need to use it.

Assistance Dogs

Assistance dogs are welcome. Please let us know when booking what facilities you require.

Alternative Formats or Programmes, Brochures and Leaflets

We can provide our brochure, production programmes and information leaflets in a range of accessible formats. Please do let us know your requirements and we can arrange to send them to you, or have them ready for you to collect from Box Office. Some patrons have preferred A3 enlargements of existing print whilst others require plain text large print - please just let us know.

Companions Tickets

A free ticket is available to a companion accompanying a disabled person to an event, where it is an access requirement. You will need to register with our Companions Tickets Scheme when booking your tickets. Once you have registered you will be entitled to one free companion ticket for each visit. Organisations and groups can also register for this scheme - you will just need to let us know the organisations name, the name of the person authorised to make bookings for your group, and let us know what the access requirements of members of the group are, including the ratio of companion tickets required for a group visit.

Car Parking and Drop Off/Collection Points

ARC does not have its own venue car park, but there is roadside parking close by in neighbouring streets. The pavements around ARC do have dropped curb facilities at intervals. Further information is available on the Visit Arc page.

Families

ARC welcomes families, actively encouraging parents and guardians to bring children along to performances and activities. ARC offers a diverse family programme for children of all ages to enjoy with bedtime stories and bestsellers brought to life by award-winning theatre companies, as well as dedicated activities for children from 0 upwards.
ARC has plenty of seating and open spaces for pushchairs and family groups. For performances and activities aimed at under 5s, there will be a designated area for pushchairs in the foyer. Please note that pushchairs and bulky car seats cannot be taken into performances. Baby changing facilities are located by the ground floor toilets.

Facility Features

•Bench - Height Adjustable, Adult Sized, Wall Mounted
•Hoist - Ceiling , Loop , Capacity - 200
•Peninsular Toilet
•Washbasin Height Adjustable
•Non Slip Floor
•Floor Space (sq. m) - 13.4
•Emergency Alarm
•Privacy Screen
•Paper Roll
•Accessible Shower
•Colostomy Shelf
•Unisex
•Signage in the room
•Drop down grab rails
•Wall grab rails
•Large Bin
•Door Width (m) - 1.00
•Ceiling height (m) - 2.30