Harlow Arts Centre is a permanent scheme following the temporary intervention made by Harlow Film Festival. Both projects occupy areas of the abandoned Odeon cinema, a significant and celebrated building in Westgate. The conservation and transformation of the existing architecture is balanced to both respect its history and envisage an exciting cultural hub for the town; creating a new street presence for the Arts Centre on Kitson Way will attract both pedestrians and car-users by introducing an active front to what was once car-parks, service yards and an un-used back road. By joining forces with Gatehouse ARTS, and presenting them with new public workshops connecting their premises with the new building, the Arts Centre aims to engage the public in numerous art processes, thus strengthening their relationship to local art, film and performance.