The programme of performances ranges from theatre, to live music, comedy, dance, visual art, spoken word and children's events.

After a capital lottery bid failed, The London Borough of Barnet sought a commercial developer to work with.

The design was a result of close working with the main partners and the artistic vision was developed largely by The Bull Arts Centre's director, Alison Duthie.

The site on which artsdepot was built had been empty, apart from a weekly market that was relocated to the nearby Lodge Lane car park, for over 20 years since the Gaumont cinema closed down in 1980 (and later demolished in 1987).

[3] In December 2001, the project was officially launched with the name "artsdepot" by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Tessa Jowell, when the building works began.