Dedicated to the Business of Contemporary Live Music
THE OWNER of East London’s Village Underground (cap, 400) in Shoreditch, Auro Foxcroft, says his new 1,200-capacity venue, Hackney Arts Centre (HAC) will open in September.
Built in 1936, the former art deco-style Savoy Cinema in Dalston, which had been derelict for 40 years, has been refurbished in a £3 million restoration project part-funded by social investment firms Big Issue Invest, The Arts Impact Fund and Triodos Bank, which have contributed £1.9m.
“All three investors are passionate about the social impact of Hackney Arts Centre and have been creative and bold in getting us this far,” says Foxcroft.
HAC will feature two performance spaces, the Auditorium (1,200), the Hall (300) as well as a new bar and kitchen.
The first concerts at the venue, which will become a fully-functioning multi-arts centre by 2019-2020 include Lianne La Havas, Mulatu Astatke, Stephen Malkmus and Fatoumata Diawara.
