Hackney arts charity and cultural organisation reaches crowdfunding target

Hackney Showroom and Kings Crescent TRA have raised £17,800 for the new community centre. Pic: Kings Crescent TRA

A Hackney arts charity and cultural organisation have reached their crowdfunding target and raised over £17,800 to open a new home on the Kings Crescent Estate in Stoke Newington.

The crowdfunder for Hackney Showroom now has 188 backers and is run by the newly formed Kings Crescent Tenants & Residents Association (TRA) who have partnered with the Showroom to fund the move from their previous home in Finsbury Park into the Kings Crescent Estate.

With the help of the fundraiser, they are now transforming their new 360 square metre shop front unit into a community centre, where they will put on activities and events.

Nina Lyndon, co-artistic director at Hackney Showroom, told EastLondonLines: “The residents waited for such a long time for this, and the ultimate goal is to have as much high-quality engagement with the residents as possible, and as quick and soon as possible.”

The crowdfunding will remain open another five days until May 25, 2020 to reach the stretch goal of £20,000, which will be used to purchase further resources and material to be able to reopen with events, workshops, and activities.

The decision to move Hackney Showroom into the new Kings Crescent Estate came after they won a London Borough of Hackney Regeneration Team bid which called for a local organisation to take over the new unit in the estate. 

The Mayor of London pledged £12,000 in March which has enabled Hackney Showroom and Kings Crescent to fit out the unit. 

Lyndon said: “We’ve had a really fantastic response to the crowdfunding, and we’re really delighted to have been awarded £12,000 from the Mayor of London, so it’s been fantastic. We’re overfunding now, so the goal is to try and raise as much money as we can, so we can really get the ground running when we reopen.”

Philip Glanville, Mayor of Hackney, said: “Creativity and culture are key to what makes Hackney so unique which is why the Council supported Kings Crescent TRA and Hackney Showroom to go forward with this fantastic project in the award-winning Kings Crescent housing development. 

“I am keen to make Hackney fairer which is why I am pleased the Mayor of London has committed over £800,000 funding to Hackney-based projects including this community-led project which will allow local residents, voluntary organisations and businesses to reap the full benefits of regeneration.”

Emley Pine, chair of Kings Crescent TRA, thanked the community’s support and pledges. She said: “Thank you so much to every individual who has already pledged to show that you support our vision of vibrant community space on Kings Crescent, I’m so happy to know that this is wanted by our local community.” 

Programmes and projects they aim to deliver include “FUTUREHEADS”, a holiday project for 8 to 11-year-olds, ‘Disco Loco’, a family arts programme for very young children and their families, ‘Hackney Showroom Young Actors’, high-level skills-based training for 16 to 25-year-olds serious about a career in acting.

They will also utilise the new play street in front of the space for street parties and activities and offer skills training and volunteer opportunities.  

If you would like to support Hackney Showroom you can pledge here.

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