# About — The Foundry

> Our story, our people and our plans.

*About*

## From iron to art

![From iron to art](https://t-artscentre.clearcms.app/media/photo-5.svg)

## Our story

For 110 years the Foundry cast iron for bridges, railings and bandstands across the city. It closed in 1978 and sat empty for two decades.

In 2001 a group of neighbours, artists and one very persistent councillor turned it into an arts centre. Today it welcomes 300,000 visitors a year, and a third of our tickets cost less than a cinema seat.

## Who runs it

### Rosa Delgado

![Rosa Delgado](https://t-artscentre.clearcms.app/media/person-1.svg)

Artistic director

### Ben Achterberg

![Ben Achterberg](https://t-artscentre.clearcms.app/media/person-2.svg)

Executive director

### Yuki Mori

![Yuki Mori](https://t-artscentre.clearcms.app/media/person-3.svg)

Head of learning

### Sam Oduya

![Sam Oduya](https://t-artscentre.clearcms.app/media/person-4.svg)

Head of music

## A year at the Foundry

[A year at the Foundry](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqz-KE-bpKQ)