Mayor Sadiq Khan should make ‘more permanent, affordable premises’ available for London’s quirkier cultural organisations, London assembly members say.
London Assembly Economy Committee has warned that small museums and galleries are struggling to access long-term or affordable leases in London, with some having to move between various locations.
The Vagina Museum, for example, a venue that gave evidence to the committee during a roundtable of cultural organisations, has had to leave its premises in Bethnal Green and is now looking for a new home.
In their new report, the committee also warned that small museums, galleries and theatres also don’t have large resources to dedicate to marketing and those located outside central London did not benefit from the Let’s Do London campaign, which focussed on the Central Activities Zone.
Chair of the London Assembly Economy Committee, Hina Bokhari AM, said: ‘Grassroots cultural organisations are integral to London’s arts and culture sector and are hugely valued by London’s diverse communities. But our investigation found that they currently face multiple challenges.
‘Some smaller organisations have had to move between various locations in London, restricting their ability to plan for the long term and leaving them to operate under instability and uncertainty.
‘There is much more that the Mayor could do to help smaller cultural organisations, including improving to access long-term affordable leases, convening a network of grassroots venues, and promoting their value in GLA initiatives.
‘Smaller cultural organisations are part of the fabric of London and we urge the Mayor to act now to protect and promote London’s hidden cultural gems.’
