Fifteen years ago, a bold vision took root in Liverpool’s Baltic Triangle. Amongst derelict warehouses and fading industry, a new chapter was about to unfold – one driven by the energy and creativity of the people who would call it home. Baltic Creative CIC was established with a simple yet revolutionary idea: to create a space owned by the creative and digital community, where businesses would thrive without the threat of displacement.
15 years on, we reflect on a community that transformed the Baltic Triangle and the city region’s creative landscape. This is the story of how far we’ve come, the partnerships we’ve built, and the future that lies ahead. For a deeper look into our journey and achievements, you can read our 23/24 annual report at this link.
The birth of Baltic Creative
Twenty years ago, the Baltic Triangle was largely derelict but full of potential. Art organisations like Liverpool Biennial were already using former warehouses as gallery spaces; and, one of Liverpool’s longest-running venues, The Picket (now District), was about to move in.
Amid these pockets of creativity, development and market forces were already on the horizon. It’s a cycle we’ve all witnessed. Artists and creative companies move in where it’s cheap, make places popular and are forced out. Not any more. Liverpool had a group of visionaries, who’d seen this happen too many times before. Their answer was Baltic Creative.
With the help of Liverpool Vision, Baltic Creative was established as a community interest company in 2009. We secured a £4.5m grant from the European Regional Development Fund and North West Development Agency, and used this to acquire and refurbish 18 warehouses in the semi-derelict Baltic Triangle. The first building opened in 2012 to Liverpool’s best and brightest creative and digital businesses.
“Liverpool Biennial was the first arts and culture organisation to move to the Baltic Triangle in 2012 and it has been wonderful to see the area developed by Baltic Creative. The Baltic Triangle is full of brilliant creatives and we are proud of the vibrant visual arts scene as evidenced by artist studios such as The Royal Standard. We are proud to call this area our home.”
Sam Lackey, Director at Liverpool Biennial.
Building a thriving creative ecosystem
Since 2009, Baltic Creative has provided support for Liverpool’s creative and digital industries. With a sector-led, community ownership model, we now oversee 120,000 sq. ft. of workspace in the Baltic Triangle. The area has become one that companies gravitate towards. It is a thriving cluster of digital and creative businesses, supported by cafés, bars, restaurants, music venues and independent businesses.
Baltic Creative remains at its heart and our tenants often talk about its community feel with opportunities to connect and collaborate. Our properties are now full of innovative businesses, representing 21 different industries. They are more than just buildings; they are hubs where everyone from architects, to artists, agencies, and app developers meet. Places where music is made, ideas take flight, and collaborations flourish.
For 15 years, we’ve reinvested all of our profits into our buildings, services and support. And we’ve worked with partners to help our tenants thrive. We collaborate with Liverpool John Moores University to connect talent with potential employers. We strengthen our community’s voice through relationships with organisations like Creative UK, European Creative Hubs Network, BIMA and the British Council. And we actively engage with Liverpool City Council and the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, acting as a key stakeholder in the region, providing advice and direction around business growth for the sector.
“Thanks to the diversity of this business community, most of the services we need are on our doorstep, from printing and social media, to buying new trainees and designer furniture. And, to top it all, our favourite music lawyer has moved in across the road. Where else in the city could that happen? We love the Baltic community and we love the security that being in a Baltic Creative building gives us. Recent history shows music venues come and go in this city, but District remains, secure in the knowledge that our building won’t be sold for redevelopment. Long live Baltic Creative and all the independent companies who sail in her.”
Eric Gooden, Owner at District.
Adapting to challenges
Community remains a huge part of the attraction of Baltic Creative. We’re a place to work, chat, learn and support each other. Earlier this year, Time Out Magazine voted Baltic Triangle the 11th coolest neighbourhood in the world – and we agree!
But, as an organisation dedicated to going above and beyond to support our tenants, recent global events marked a tough period for us. In the midst of recovering from COVID, the energy crisis impacted both us and our tenants significantly. But challenges bring innovation, and the lessons of the last five years have prompted us to rethink our strategy.
Our main focus continues to be supporting our community, with the addition of new income streams that will support our planned growth and existing base. At the same time, we’ve moved forward as a business, developing our policies around equality, diversity and inclusion, maternity and social investment, to make sure we’re a business fit for the future. With those insights, we’re a more mature business in 2024, after spending much of our first decade as a start-up.
“I am immensely proud of how our team rose to the occasion during the pandemic, working closely with our tenants to navigate those difficult times. The fact that so many of those businesses remain with us today is a testament to both our team’s support and the resilience of our tenants.”
Karen Beddow, Chair of Baltic Creative CIC.
Evolving support and strengthening connections
The landscape has changed for the creative and digital businesses we serve, and Baltic Creative has evolved to meet those needs. Earlier this year, we launched the inaugural Bloom business festival, which marked a new approach to our business support programme. The feedback was incredibly positive, and we’re already planning next year’s event, aiming to make it even bigger with the support of our partners.
We continue to support organisations that fight social injustice and support anti-racism. In the last few years we made contributions to Taste Ramadan, South Liverpool Food Bank, Whitechapel Centre, Liverpool Pride, the Anthony Walker Foundation and SCN8A UK and Ireland. In addition to this, we are proud to back creative, cultural, and local initiatives. Some of the most notable in recent years include Positive Vibration Festival, Light Night, Make Bank, and the Baltic Peace Garden.
Within our own buildings we provide opportunities for tenants to connect and share their work. Our exhibition spaces in Northern Lights and The Shed continue, with a regular programme of events to support local artists. We host a range of monthly socials from our Baltic Brews to tenant events and a Christmas party. Finally, our public art platform, the McKeown Rice Exhibition Space regularly showcases exciting new large-scale pieces. The space celebrates its tenth birthday this November!
“It’s an honour to witness the collaboration and innovation within our community. The Baltic Triangle is a dynamic, ever-evolving space, and it’s a privilege to lead a property company that focuses on the greater good of the sector.“
Lynn Haime, CEO of Baltic Creative CIC.
A future full of possibility
The last two years were a period to steady the ship, and we’re pleased to say we’ve come out stronger. We look to the future with optimism and excitement again! In the last five years we’ve recruited nine new board members to keep our organisation fresh and inventive. We’ve also hired two new staff members and moved our head office to a bigger space to accommodate a growing team.
Our future is a combination of reinvesting and developing the property already under our control. We’re continuing conversations with development partners, discussing new opportunities for growth locally and throughout the Liverpool City Region. It’s a two-fold approach, designed to respond to ongoing demand for space in the Baltic Triangle and looking at new opportunities to make an impact in up and coming areas. We’re continuing to build relationships with other areas, people and places that have insights to share, sector expertise and opportunities for our tenants.
This approach – encouraging wider connectivity locally, nationally, and internationally – will very much form part of our future focus, keeping Baltic Creative on the map as a leading digital and creative cluster.
Fifteen years of Baltic Creative is celebrated with thanks to:
Baltic Creative’s management team – Lynn Haime, Maria Popezuk, Jeff Mcglinchey, Becky Birchall, Alex Christey-Kelly, and Fran Garforth.
Baltic Creative’s board of directors – Karen Beddow (Chair), Ngunan Adamu, Geraldine Achieng, Clemens Wangerin, Lila Tamea, Andrew Byrne, Julian Woods, Adrien Mogenet, Dr Paul Jones and Liz Edwards.
Former team members – Mark Lawler, Chris Green, Alison James, Mia Tagg, Jenni Fleet, and Tom France.
Former board members – Dr Fiona Armstrong-Gibbs, Erika Rushton, Jayne Casey, James France, Bill Maynard, Lynne Robertson, Claire McKeown, Paul Rice, Anna Heyes, Peter Lunt, Ben Clay, Esra Gonen, and Aaron Fontenot.
And special thanks to our external partners and supporters over the years:
Liverpool City Council, Homes England, Charity Bank, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, European Creative Hubs Network, Liverpool John Moores University, The Studio School, Liverpool Chamber, Make CIC, Creative UK, British Council, Northwest Housing Services, Baltic Triangle Area CIC, BIMA, Transform Lives Company, Baltic Ventures, Brabners, Castle Fine Arts, Gather LCR, Social Enterprise UK, and the Department for International Trade.
