Our Site
“What Metal offers is so much more than physical access – it’s about care, hosting and hospitality. They understand the need for ‘safe’ spaces for creation and offer a sense of family. The staff make time and are never too busy. There is a real sense of belonging due to a shared sensibility. It is an open and inclusive environment”. – Choreographer Kimberley Harvey
In Peterborough, our Metal home is Chauffeurs Cottage, the original gatehouse property which once was connected to the ground of Peterborough Cathedral. The ancient wall and castle-like gateway remain, forming a sizable courtyard space outside our building for outdoor events and houses our garden.
Our History
The house, which until 2011 had been largely unused, has been renovated by Metal in partnership with Peterborough City Council and now provides a welcoming, stimulating, and comfortable space for artists to create, show and make work in partnership with the wider communities of Peterborough.
Our Programme
We curate an exciting programme of international and UK artists in residence, host dinners to bring artists and communities together, offer talent development support through training and mentoring, and run a wide range of events, exhibitions and participatory projects often off-site within the communities we serve, that connect artists to audiences and audiences to artists.
For current events click here and for information about our current projects running from Chauffeurs Cottage, click here.
Our Partnerships and Tenants
Based at Chauffeurs Cottage are a number of organisations and local creatives who call it ‘home’. Based upstairs in the cottage is arts organisation Peterborough Presents, and theatre company Eastern Angles. On the ground floor we have Peterborough based production company Red 7 Productions.
Our Networks
At Metal Peterborough, we are part of the following networks:
- Peterborough Cultural Alliance
- Peterborough Presents Steering Group
- Voluntary Sector Committees – Syntax Poetry Festival, Peterborough Women’s Forum, Peterborough Pride
- Peterborough Cultural Form
- Disability Consultancy for Creative Change (DC4CC)
Our Access
The garden and ground floor are all on one level, with automatic doors to enter the lobby. The doors are wide enough for an electric wheelchair. In the lobby there are a series of doorways.
The doorway on the right leads to the mainspace, which is wide enough for an electric wheelchair. The mainspace has an induction hearing loop that can work by linking up to a set of microphones.
At the back of the mainspace is a doorway that leads to our workshop space, which can also be accessed through the double doors outside at the far end of the building. A wheelchair ramp is available for use if entering through the outside double doors.
Back in the lobby, the doorway directly ahead of you is to a gender neutral and wheelchair accessible bathroom. The bathroom has handrails and assistance chords. The door on the left leads to the reading room, which is wide enough for a manual wheelchair.
On the left hand side is a floor to ceiling bookcase. Please feel free to ask a member of the team if you’re looking for a certain book.Through the reading room is a kitchen and the Metal offices. There is a set of stairs to access the first floor.
All our bathrooms are gender neutral. If you have any specific questions or queries around access please get in touch.
We want everyone to feel welcome at Metal and we do not tolerate harassment or discrimination. We take holding a space seriously and if you have any feedback or would like to raise a concern, please let a member of staff know.
Use of our space
Our mainspace has been used for a variety of events, from board meetings to scratch nights. The space can hold up to 30 people standing and 20 people sitting, equipped with a range of tables, chairs, and beanbags that can be set up in the space. The space has overhead speakers and a built-in projector for showing presentations and movies.
Depending on our programme and activities, the mainspace can be used to test one off ideas and events. It could be a chance to test a new piece of work in front of the public, or hold a one off workshop with a community group (availability dependant).
As well as the mainspace, we have a range of spaces across the building that can be used for ad-hoc hot desking and meetings.
Volunteering
Looking to get some experience in the arts? Want to help out with projects in your community? We often look for volunteers when we’ve got a large project taking place, with our newsletter being the first port of call for volunteers so make sure you’re signed up here. You can find out more about volunteering at Metal here.
How to find us?
We are open Mondays – Fridays (excluding bank holidays) from 9am till 5pm. You can find us at:
Metal at Chauffeur’s Cottage
St Peter’s Road
Peterborough. PE1 1YX
Look for a stone archway, with large wooden gates, green astro turf and a garden inside.
Parking at the cottage is limited. The nearest car park is Car Haven which is based right behind us. For cheap all day parking Pleasure Fair Meadows is a 10 minute walk away.
Coming to us by train? You can download this PDF document showing how to get from Peterborough train station to Chauffeurs Cottage here.
Get in touch!
You can contact us via our phone number 01733 893077 or by dropping us an email chauffeurscottage@metalculture.com
