Funding for the future: scheme to provide cash injection for creative businesses in Hackney Wick and Fish Island
A grant scheme has been launched to help 10 creative businesses in Hackney Wick and Fish Island gain access to new equipment or enhance their workspaces, with a total of £100,000 in funding available.
The ‘Space Makers Grants’ programme is funded through the Mayor of London’s Creative Enterprise Zone scheme. These are designated areas of London where help is given to artists and creative businesses to start-up and grow; find permanent affordable space to work - and where local people are helped to learn creative sector skills and find new jobs. The Hackney Wick and Fish Island Creative Enterprise Zone was established in 2018.
The Space Makers Grants programme will be managed jointly by Hackney Council, Tower Hamlets Council and the London Legacy Development Corporation. It is part of a commitment shared by the local authorities to preserve creative workspace, through a combination of rent cap policies, strong provision of employment space in new developments and Council-led projects such as Wick Workspaces. As well as enabling businesses and enterprises to modernise and diversify, the programme aims to stimulate innovation, helping to preserve and enhance an area known for its diverse and successful creative economy.
Four types of grant are on offer:
- Small grants: £5,000 (x 4) - for the purchase of equipment
- Medium ‘equipment’ grants: £10,000 (x2) - for the purchase of larger equipment
- Medium ‘works’ grants: £10,000 (x2) - to improve environmental performance, to increase ventilation
- Large grants: £20,000 (x 2) - for the creation of new creative production space (densification or fit out)
The Hackney Wick and Fish Island Creative Enterprise Zone is recognised as one of London's most successful creative communities. This funding is part of our commitment to keep it that way - allowing businesses to diversify and enhance their offer and contributing towards our aims for a fair recovery after the pandemic.
As I saw from visiting the area last month, our partnership work is already making a difference. From refurbishing Council-owned buildings to providing affordable work spaces and strict planning rules that provide new affordable workspace and cap rent increases, the Space Makers programme is the latest initiative to keep Hackney Wick and Fish Island recognised globally for its creativity and innovation.
It’s been an extremely challenging time for the art and creative industries so I’m delighted that the Creative Enterprise Zone’s Space Makers Grants programme will assist businesses in continuing to breathe new life into Hackney Wick and Fish Island.”
“These areas within East London are filled with creative potential and it is vital that our local artists have access to affordable enhanced workspaces to nurture talent and maintain our creative reputation on a global scale.
This significant amount of funding will ensure that the Hackney Wick and Fish Island Creative Enterprise Zone continues to grow and serve the people who need it most. The local community and business have been hit hard financially by the impact of coronavirus and this money will make a vital difference to those that need it most in the overall recovery from the pandemic.
Applications are open to creative workspaces and businesses as defined by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport based within the CEZ.
The deadline for applications is 1 November.
Applicants are invited to download the funding brief, application forms and supporting documents:
- Funding brief
- Application form: small equipment
- Application: medium equipment
- Application form: medium works
- Application form: larger works
- Project budget template
- Impact reporting template
- grant FAQs
About the Hackney Wick and Fish Island Creative Enterprise Zone
Creative Enterprise Zones (CEZ) are a Mayoral initiative to designate areas of London where artists and creative businesses can find permanent affordable space to work; are supported to start-up and grow; and where local people are helped to learn creative sector skills and access pathways to employment.
HWFI CEZ is delivered in partnership by LBH, LBTH, and the LLDC. Since its designation, the authorities have worked closely with the local communities and creative stakeholders to develop the overall resilience of the cluster by securing affordable creative workspace in perpetuity; providing targeted support to creative businesses; widening access to creative sector opportunities for local people; developing local infrastructure, supporting local networks and developing partnerships.