Fulham's derelict town hall is given a new lease of life with post-lockdown art celebration

Covering a sprawling 51,000 square feet inside Fulham Town Hall, which has been derelict for over a decade, the show brings together contemporary art, live music, talks, and performance art from 20 May until 6 June. Curated by Ben Moore of Art Below and co-presented by hotel operator Lamington Group, it will be a free event for the local community before the owners Ziser Property redevelops the building and gives the iconic space a new lease of life as a creative, community hub and boutique hotel in 2022.

This isn't just a chance to enjoy some art and culture after months of restrictions; you'll also be able to see many of the landmark building's beautiful original fittings, which are preserved and will remain so in its future life as a hotel and entertainment space. We're talking elegant architecture and decorative features such as green marble columns, stained-glass roof lights, wrought iron balustrades, and art deco lighting.

There is some visible deterioration, naturally, but that only adds to the character and the beauty of the building, which seeps through cracks of decay and peeling wallpaper.

Originally built in 1890, it features a beautiful grand ballroom, a courtroom in the round with original stained-glass windows and tiered seating, civil registration and function rooms and each area will be taken over by artists including Nasser Azam, Patrick Boyd, Leila Bartell, Ricardo Cinalli, Ariadna Dane, Tim Gatenby, Eliot Haigh, Angry Dan, and Lucie Flynn. While the cells in the building's basement vault beneath the courtroom, complete with the original bars from their time as holding chambers, will be transformed into mini art spaces for emerging talent.

This is not one to miss. You can book tickets at fulhamtownhall.com.