The Ladder

The Ladder is a creative and community hub based in Redruth’s historic former library and college buildings. Set in a landmark Grade II listed site within the Cornish Mining World Heritage landscape, The Ladder has been sensitively restored to offer an inspiring base for artists, cultural organisations, social enterprises, educators, and the wider community. The project is led by Redruth Former Library CIC, a not-for-profit set up to return the building to public use after a successful local campaign prevented it being sold for residential development.

The Ladder hosts a range of vibrant, accessible spaces:

A flexible rehearsal and performance studio with lighting, sound and projection infrastructure

A podcasting suite and community radio station

Dedicated spaces for workshops, training and education

Fully accessible meeting and events spaces

A sound-treated basement for creative production, including music and audio recording

Offices and coworking spaces for small businesses, charities and CICs

A community nursery and outdoor garden space

In-house support for creative projects, cultural events and collaborations

We are proud to be home to Writer’s Block (supporting emerging writers of all ages), the Redruth Community Radio Station, and several resident organisations working in theatre, music, visual arts and youth development.

As a public building with community at its heart, The Ladder runs a year-round programme of performances, residencies, open days, markets and cultural activity that brings people together and supports the town’s regeneration. Many of our events are low-cost or free to attend, and we work closely with local schools, charities and community groups to provide welcoming, inclusive access to culture and heritage.

We offer space hire for events, meetings, rehearsals, and exhibitions. We welcome enquiries from touring companies, educators, heritage projects, and anyone looking for a beautiful, characterful venue in the heart of Cornwall.

Whether you’re here to work, create, learn, perform or just pop in for a visit, The Ladder is a place to meet, make and grow.