We’re reopening our doors to visitors on Saturday 30 May between 10am and 4pm and Sunday 31 May from 2pm – 4pm – and everyone is invited!
Come and see the completed £1.5m phase of work on the iconic octagonal tower which includes a new lift to all three floors, a stunning spiral staircase, brand new toilets and for the first time visitors will be able to access all areas from one front entrance.
Visitors will be able to
- Explore the £1.5m redevelopment of the iconic octagonal tower
(funded by Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council) - See newly revealed stone tracery and stained glass from the original 1865 building
- Experience a new modern lift and dramatic spiral staircase
- Learn about hidden histories uncovered during renovation – include a hidden tunnel to the cheap seats!
- Celebrate step-free access to all three floors from one entrance — for the first time in 160 years
- Share memories and hopes for the future of this much-loved community building
Also, as part of the opening celebrations, we are thrilled to host a very special collaboration between Steve Guinness, The Brick Consultant, creator of the LEGO® typewriter and winner of LEGO Masters (Channel 4), and Gosha Gibek of Gosha Gosh Art, one of the region’s most celebrated artists. Together, they will be creating something truly extraordinary: a large-scale LEGO mosaic reimagining Gosha’s much-loved artwork of The Exchange.
The original image, created during lockdown, now features on the cover of The Exchange history book by Chris Walton and Howard Foy. During reopening weekend, it will be rebuilt in an entirely new medium — brick by brick — with the public invited to help assemble it.
We are inviting back past staff who worked at the cinema and patrons to see the transformation and get a glimpse of what the whole building might become if we can continue to raise the £9million necessary.
One special guest we have invited is a Rebekah Newton who hit the news headlines in 2002 as a young girl when she was in a car accident and temporarily in a wheel chair. Her parents complained to the local paper that there was no wheelchair access and she couldn’t get to see Monsters Inc. Now fit and able, and living in Burnley – we have invited Rebekah back, 24 years later … to be one of the first users of the new lift!
Most people of a certain age, living in and around Blackburn will remember The Exchange when it was the Apollo and Unit 4 cinema with Tiggi’s restaurant underneath. That closed in 2005 and eleven years later, the building was bought by volunteers who formed a charity to create a new venue for the town. Even in its undeveloped state, the building has already hosted some amazing events, such as National Festival of Making, the Adidas Special product launch and textile biennial … attracting audiences from all over the world.
There will be live music, painting demonstrations, a selfie corner and refreshments.
“We know how much people love this building and how excited they will be that we are reopening. The weekend offers the perfect opportunity for the community to explore the revitalised tower, learn about our ongoing development plans, and enjoy the newly enhanced facilities.”
Admission is free, with voluntary donations welcomed on the door to support the continued development and future projects at The Exchange. Meemaws cafe will be open for refreshments and copies of the recently published history book will be on sale.
