Council leader promises to consider 'all options' after Kettering stakeholders meet to discuss Cornerstone rebranding for library and art gallery
North Northants Council (NNC) leader Martin Griffiths has promised to consider 'all options' for Kettering Library and the Alfred East Art Gallery after stakeholders met to discuss the rebranding of Cornerstone.
A total of 35 representatives from key stakeholders and partners took part in the session – including local councils, Kettering Civic Society and ‘Friends of’ groups.
Workshop attendees looked at the future identity and name for the gallery and library to replace the umbrella name of Cornerstone chosen by the previous Conservative administration.
The controversial Cornerstone brand was dumped by Reform-run NNC at the end of 2025, following ‘ongoing public feedback and careful consideration’.
Cllr Griffiths said: “As we gear up to fully open the site to the public, sessions like this are really important to help us understand what matters most and how we move forward with the identity of this cultural asset.
“At the moment, we are considering all the options to ensure the end name is the right one and fits the site and surrounding area.
“The workshop, gathering together 35 representatives from a variety of partners and stakeholders, was a really positive session at the start of this process. We will now be reviewing all the feedback before coming back to the group with some proposal and a final decision is made.”
During the session, attendees were asked to consider a proposal around developing a unified ‘Heritage Quarter’ that showcases and promotes the area - connecting the buildings and groups that use the different parts of the site.
Those present were also given the opportunity to suggest alternative names for the site and explain what the site means to them.
Cllr Greg Wilcox, NNC’s executive member for communities, added: “This site has been at the heart of the community for generations and continues to be well-loved by the residents of Kettering and further afield.
“As the current custodians of the site, we want to identify a name that unifies and promotes the site as we look to the future and a new chapter for this asset.”
Feedback from the session will now be brought together and reviewed before a new identity for the site is developed by the council.
Any proposals will be shared with stakeholders before a final decision is confirmed.