Alicia Radage & Sebastian Hau-Walker at Performance Space. Pic: Marco Berardi

In the industrial shadow of the former Olympic Park in Hackney Wick is ‘Performance Space’ – a spot claimed to be the only specific space for performance art in Britain. Until now, it has been running for nearly three years without any external financial funding, public or private. But without urgent financial help ‘Performance Space’ will face imminent closure and has begun a campaign to raise £6,000 to ensure it survival. Described as a ‘world-famous art event & studio space which cultivates innovative work’, it has supported over 200 artists and held 20 free events for the public since its opening in 2010. The non-profit, artist-led network will be unable to survive until April unless it receives immediate financial support, claims its founder. So far ‘Performance Space’ has received no support from local authorities and has had six major funding applications declined. The founder of ‘Performance Space’ known only as ‘Bean’ has described the attempt to gain funding as ‘near impossible’. She said: ‘Performance Space is the only remaining space in the UK which is solely dedicated to Performance Art’. ‘Performance Space’ is not alone in facing a fight to survive without outside support. Its plight follows the recent closures of other local art platforms such as Stoke Newington International Airport, the Old Vic Tunnels & LUPA. In recent years, Hackney Wick has changed beyond recognition in absorbing the overspill from its increasingly affluent neighbours, Hackney Wick has sought to shed both its industrial fibre and its radical artist community. I Donors are being asked to make contributions of less than £50 to ensure they can keep their 2013 programme running. Follow the I ♥ PS campaign to find out more at http://www.performancespace.org/support.php  By Maya Oppenheim