£746,000 will be awarded to Islington Mill to complete their capital fundraising project of over £2 million.
This award from National Lottery Heritage Fund will in turn activate their grant of almost £1 million from Arts Council England.
Together with input from Salford City Council, plus over half a million pounds raised by Islington Mill, means the restorative building programme can begin in 2020.
New features include a new roof, complete weather-proofing of the structure, new entranceways, exterior lift to all floors, a fifth storey walkway, and new live/work/event spaces in a complete transformation of the 5th and 6th floors.
Together we raised over £100,000 which is a phenomenal achievement by any standards
Maurice Carlin, Co-Director of Islington Mill said:
“Islington Mill is sustained by, and thrives off, the collective energy, ideas and opportunities brought by artists.
“I am one of many artists who made artworks to raise funds for the Mill. Together we raised over £100,000 which is a phenomenal achievement by any standards.
“This latest funding success will secure a long future for the finest surviving heritage building of its kind in the region, in perpetuity for generations more artists to come, guarding against the developing gentrification that has occurred in other urban centres and ensuring that artists have affordable studio space and a creative atmosphere in Salford in which to grow.”
Founded by designer Bill Campbell in 2000, Islington Mill has established itself as an independent arts centre.
It’s home to a network of artists, musicians, promoters and small businesses.
The response to our news has been overwhelming, thank you, we are so touched, and what’s even more exciting is that one day soon we will be able to open our (new) doors and welcome you all in once again!
— Islington Mill (@islingtonmill) January 15, 2020
Bill Campbell, Co-Director and Founder of Islington Mill also says:
“At Islington Mill we have always offered both space and time in which artists can flourish, by offering a range of support and encouragement, and holding a safe place for people and their ideas to grow, develop and happen in their own way, at their own pace, when there was sometimes no other place for these things to happen.”
The National Lottery Hedge Fund awarded over £500 million in 2018/19, and 86% of those grants were under £10,000.
Mayor of Salford Paul Dennett writes:
“We’re hugely excited about this project, encouraging independent artistic industry in our city, driven by the community and those who live on-site.
“This is an exciting experiment in how to protect areas of rising rents from gentrification, how to keep these places affordable both for residents and also artists and creatives (who often live off a shoe-string!) We’re building a self-governing, affordable and accessible artistic space for industry, jobs and the arts.”
To find out more, head to their website.
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