The arts centre was built in 1873–74 and was designed by the firm of Maxwell &and Tuk {{mdash}} that is James Maxwell and Charles Tuk.<ref name=pev>{{Citation | last =Hartwell| first =Clare| authorlink = | last2 = Pevsner | first2 = Nikolaus | author2-link =Nikolaus Pevsner| series= The Buildings of England| title =Lancashire: North |edition= | publisher =[[Yale University Press]] | year =2009 | origyear=1969 | location = New Haven and London| page = 627 | isbn = 978-0-300-12667-9}}</ref> It initially contained an assembly hall on the first floor. The foundation stone was laid by [[Princess Mary of Cambridge]] and the building was originally named after her.<ref name=nhl>{{NHLE |num= 1379674|desc= Southport Arts Centre with entrance to Cambridge Arcade|accessdate= 9 September 2014|separator=,|ps=}}</ref> The assembly hall was converted into a theatre in the 20th century.<ref name=pev/> As of 2014 the organisation of the centre is integrated with the [[Atkinson Art Gallery and Library]] and it is known as The Atkinson.<ref>{{Citation | url = http://www.theatkinson.co.uk/| title = The Atkinson| accessdate = 9 September 2014| publisher = Sefton Council}}</ref>
