Imagining a Wild and Generous future

Watershed is a place where differences are celebrated, where stories unpack the many ways there are to be human and where those trying to make change can be topped up and fully themselves.  However, our building is old and leaky, the surfaces around us are hard, the streets are dirty and configured for cars and there is not much to encourage you to linger.

In March 2024, we shared our ambition for Watershed Wild and Generous - asking ourselves, how do you rewild a cultural venue and make it as generous as a forest?  Two years on, consultation, investigation and planning have progressed and we have a clearer vision of the future of our building. 

This starts with the retrofit and repair of our roof and the decarbonisation of our services - a boring but necessary project as both have reached the end of their life. Repairing heritage buildings is unbelievably costly and we have begun fundraising and planning for what will be a two - three year project.

Looking to the future though, are hearts lie in the larger vision of nature recovery and public space regeneration: A watershed is an area of land that collects and channels water from the land around into a common outlet. Our future building will centre on all the ways we can clean, improve and engage with the water around our building - so that we can continue acting as a Watershed for ideas, for hope and creativity.  

Nature

We envision a building wrapped in nature – the public spaces reconnected to the marshland of its past – its greenery acting as a draw to humans and more than humans alike. We imagine sponge-like surfaces which soak up the water run-off of the city and give life to our planting – which in turn improves the water quality of the harbour around us.  

Reconnected with the water – the edges of our land are softened, biodiversity thrives and visitors step down from our building into wetlands, resting a moment amongst the reeds before they catch a boat. Our neighbours across the harbourside have stepped with us into nature-led stewarding and place making – a green corridor runs across the land.  

Community 

The rich social heritage of the communities who contribute to our home are loudly celebrated.  But challenges of the past are addressed too - Watershed sits on Bristol’s Harbourside, built on the horrific legacies of Maafa (the African genocide), the economic and environmental extraction of planation economies and the later trades enabled by indentured labour. We continue work to understand the past, present and future role of Watershed in championing Black storytelling and the role that reparation might play in our shared collective vision. 

We deepen our role as a visitor destination, with visitors that come from near and far. They eat and drink local Bristol food on a new balcony which overlooks the harbour and runs the length of our building. They interact with Bristol art in our gallery, they engage with regenerative innovation and cutting-edge climate conscious design around our building.  

Our sheds - which in their very first iteration were a heritage co-working space for small-scale traders - continue to play home to micro businesses undertaking creative R&D. Our residents work regeneratively - using local materials, working in collaboration with humans and nature and building local and global connections. We house those selling their wares – from local food companies to artisans and makers. With an ornate façade marking its heritage as the gateway to the harbourside – the building is now a Watershed of Bristol creativity combining home grown talent with the stories of the world.  

The Building 

Blending Victorian brickwork with natural materials from the bioregion – our buildings are linked by a statement atrium filled with plants. There is a clear and welcoming entrance to our building – a permanent solar projection celebrates our status as Britian’s first media centre. 

We lean into the Playable City concept that we have exported across the world – creating joyful public space interventions that facilitate interaction and play.  Our communities – including those who are experiencing homelessness – feel pride, connection and welcome on the land – it has not been gentrified and is not hostile to their needs.  Shade and resting spaces are plentiful. 

In 10 years time we have established a global reputation for exploring what the world needs from a cultural venue in a climate crisis. The power of our story and the magic of our spaces draw people from near and far. Our communities benefit, our business thrives, our nature buzzes.