THE university’s newly opened multimillion pound Art House offers an “open and flexible space” not just for students but also the city itself.

The Castle Street facility is currently housing The World Illustration Awards 2018 and Migrations exhibitions – with university classes expected to start there in February.

“The principle behind it was to create an open and flexible space that could be used for the arts, in keeping with the way the university develops things,” said David Broster, head of the University of Worcester's school of arts.

“It’s very much working with the community and kids as well as the students that will be using it and the professional exhibitions within there.”

“The key is about participation, getting people to do something,” he added.

Situated in what was originally an Austin Motors car showroom in the 1930s, the art house breathes new life into the Grade II listed building.

The wide-open space is divided between fine art and illustrations, but Mr Broster said it’s a space “for particular kinds of work rather belonging to a course or a school – the same principle as the Arena”.

“We’ll be using partition walls that will move,” he continued. “The key was not to create fixed spaces that you’re stuck with.”

“You build walls, you’ve got a capacity, and that’s what it is forever and ever, amen. “What we’re trying to do is move it around.”

Mark Evans, assistant director of estates, explained to make up for the lack of fixed walls, an acoustic panel lines the roof to help with sound, while completely new electric and heating systems have also been installed, along with endless data and power points.

“It’s a fascinating building and an iconic one in Worcester,” said Mr Broster.

“It’s got a real history, so from our point of view it was trying to be sympathetic to that and also recognise there are listed areas within it, so we have kind of worked around that.”

A ramp, which divides where cars were once stored from the main showroom has been retained as a “feature” but updated to comply with disability requirements, for example.

Desdemona McCannon, principle lecturer in illustration, said: “There is an opportunity here to have a proper studio culture which is just totally vanishing from the sector.”

Tobias Hickey, course leader for illustration, said: “The fact it’s outward facing into the community, that’s really reflective of illustration as a subject that we are communicators and we are nomadic as well, so we are connected with lots of different walks of life and different community groups, so I think that’s perfect.”

He went on to say: “It’s interesting, the university built the Hive just as all the libraries around the country were shutting down.

“Now they’ve invested £4 million in an arts facility as arts are being written out of curriculums. It’s counterculture – making a stand for the things that are important.”