When is Sanctum open?
Sanctum will be open from 6pm on Thursday 29th October to 6pm on Saturday 21st November, 24 hours a day.
Do I have to book a ticket?
Entrance to Sanctum is free and you can visit at any time of day or night without pre-booking. There is a limited capacity of 50 people, however, so at peak times (and particularly over the Art Weekender which runs from Fri 30th Oct to Sun 1st Nov) you might have to queue for a while. Keep an eye on our Twitter feed @situationsUK for information on peak times OR...
if you’d prefer to reserve a place (and particularly if you are travelling from afar), we’d advise pre-booking an hourly slot (for an administration fee of £5) on the Reserve Entry page. There are only 10 reserved places per hour.
How many times can I visit?
As many times as you wish. To really get a sense of Sanctum, we’d encourage visiting more than once because the programme will change with the rhythm of the day and over the 24 days. You can come back as often as you’d like, and pre-book as many different reserved places as you wish (subject to availability).
How do I get to Temple Church?
Temple Church is located at Temple Street, just off Victoria Street in central Bristol, BS1 6HY. The nearest train station is Bristol Temple Meads, just five minutes walk away and the nearest bus stop is on Victoria Street (1, 2, 38, 39, X39, 70, 71, 379, A1). There are cycle racks and a limited amount of on-street parking in and around Victoria Street. If you are travelling by car, we’d advise using one of the NCP car parks in central Bristol e.g. Broadmead, Queen Charlotte Street or Nelson Street.
Click here for a map
Please note Temple Church is not the ruined church in Castle Park (that’s St. Peter’s Church). You can find Temple Church nearby, off Victoria Street, in the direction of Bristol Temple Meads Station.
I’m visiting from outside Bristol, where can I stay?
Visit Bristol has information about a diversity of accommodation across Bristol
We are pleased to be able to offer visitors to the Art Weekender, a special Weekender accommodation rate with Hilton Garden Inn, Bristol. £89 single occupancy, £99 double, including breakfast (subject to availability). Use the code: GSWSP0117 925 1001 www.bit.ly/1UyX9JG
You might also like to know about Human Hotel.
What do I need to bring with me?
Whilst the structure is sheltered, we’d advise dressing for an outdoor performance in warm clothing. There is a minimal amount of seating within the space, and so you might like to bring along a cushion or blanket to sit in if you’re intending to sit for an extended period of time on the floor. If it's raining it would be worth bringing an umbrella just in case you have to queue.
Can I bring food and drink?
Yes, you’re welcome to bring in your own drinks and food, particularly if you’d like to share it around. Please take any litter home with you or recycle in the bins provided on site. The consumption of alcohol is not permitted on-site.
Who will be at Temple Church during the night?
Our hosts and security team will be looking after Sanctum round-the-clock throughout the 24 days, so there will always be someone at Temple Church to welcome you, along with a hot drink in the small hours.
Is Sanctum suitable for children?
Absolutely. Children of all ages are welcome. We will be scheduling adult appropriate performances between 9pm and midnight. For visitors with babies, a buggy park will operate by the information point in Temple Gardens with buggies left at the owner’s risk.
How do I find out who is performing?
The performers, musicians and participants will be announced in advance on 28th September, but the schedule will remain secret throughout, so you won’t know who you are going to hear at any one time.
Are there fixed times for each performance?
The length of performances will vary, so you might hear someone perform for 15 minutes, followed by a group performing for over an hour. Theaster has encouraged all performers to engage with each other, with each handover being kept informal and conversational.
Is Theaster Gates performing?
Yes, Theaster will be taking part in Sanctum at unannounced times during the first week. If you’d like to guarantee to hear Theaster talking about the project and his work, please book a ticket to his performance lecture at St. George's Bristol on Saturday 31 October at 7pm.
Can I attend if I have access requirements?
Yes, absolutely. The entrance to Sanctum has level access and large print versions of the programme are available on request. The hosts on-site will be happy to assist you and can offer audio-description to those with a visual impairment. A hearing loop is provided on-site also. Should you wish to discuss your access requirements prior to visiting, please call the Situations office on 0117 930 4282.
What facilities are available on site?
Bristol Street Food Collective (BEATS) will be providing food and drinks to buy on-site throughout the 24 days. Toilet facilities are available in Temple Gardens as well as an information point from which the programme and other special items are available to purchase.
Can I take photos, video etc.?
Yes and please do share on social media using the hashtag #sanctumbristol.
For any further enquiries, please contact
Situations
info@situations.org.uk
0117 930 4282