UNION CHAPEL CLOSES DOORS
December 13th, 2004 by susanna
Union Chapel Project, the north London venue where The Big Chill started, is to close its doors to arts and music activities in January 2005.
The venue, situated on Highbury Corner in Islington, opened its doors to music and arts related events in the early 90s. One of the first events to be staged there was The Big Chill in February 1994, which became a monthly club for next eighteen months, using a combination of the Chapel’s back rooms, and on four occasions, the main church itself. Vintage footage from early events was recently featured on the Channel 4 Big Chill 04 documentary made by Faction Films.
Amongst the artists who played at The Big Chill in its formative Union Chapel days were Global Communication, Coldcut, Talvin Singh, Hexstatic, Another Fine Day, James Lavelle, Autechre, Higher Intelligence Agency, Joi, Ross Allen and Mixmaster Morris.
The Big Chill’s Pete Lawrence said “The Big Chill probably wouldn’t have ever started without the opportunity presented by Union Chapel. They approached me directly when the building was still full of scaffolding and it seemed sufficiently different to other venues to provide the sort of interactivity across several different rooms that we were looking for. The Big Chill built its whole community in the first eighteen months through our all day Sunday gatherings at the venue and many of those people are still with us today. Tom Middleton’s classic Winter Concerts were amongst my favourite musical experiences and will be remembered fondly by many.”
In a statement, the directors said “It is with great regret that the directors of Union Chapel Project (UCP) announce that UCP will be closing at the end of January 2005. UCP will therefore no longer be accepting bookings thus ending over thirteen years as a popular, award-winning, contemporary, international music and arts venue.
“We have faced some serious blows over the last 12 months from the local residents association and the council which threatened our future. We responded positively and actively to these challenges and strategies were in place to trade out of the difficulties. However, a recent vote by the Church membership to ban the consumption of alcohol in main auditorium, with immediate effect, was carried by a small majority. We asked for time to establish alternative income streams to offset the financial repercussions of this ban and the consequent damage to the bar lead economy. An appeal against this decision was turned down by the Church. This has lead to a breakdown of trust and confidence between UCP and the Church and under company and charity law UCP has no alternative but to cease trading
“We are devastated by this situation. The only way through would have been to have the secular life of the building put on an equal par alongside the religious. To renegotiate this position would have been a long process assuming there was the will to do it and it would have taken too long given the fragility of the financial situation following a very tough year for the venue. We have loved working here and the loss to London and the many communities, who view it as home for their performance, is tragic. There will be a huge hole in what London has to offer marginalised people who have been working with the Project for many years and a very special programme of international music has also to find another home. The board hopes the homelessness project, will continue to function on the premises of Union Chapel under the banner of a new charity. The arts programme will continue to be funded but will operate outside of the Union Chapel from a new venue in early 2005.
“The Board hopes that the roof renovations will go ahead next year as planned. It would be a tragedy if this architecturally important building were allowed to decay beyond repair, but there is a strong chance this may happen without UCP and the audiences who have given so generously already to the campaign to put a roof on this unique and multifaceted listed building, venue, arts project, homeless project and church.”
How do YOU feel about this?
We need your feedback on this situation and what you think will be the repercussions of this decision so we can pass on your opinions to the relevant people – this is your opportunity to have your voice heard. PLEASE ADD YOUR COMMENTS AND STORIES BELOW.
Opinion exists that with enough public protest and opinion the Chapel could reemerge in the future and on a stronger footing for developing its valuable contribution to the arts. We also want to document your testmonies of coming to the Union Chapel for forwarding to Union Chapel as well
Union Chapel Project’s final event will be held on the 22nd January 2005:
I Could read the Sky – A life in Music, A life in Words. Martin Hayes, Dennis Cahill, Iarla O’Lionaird, Karan Casey, Mairtin O Connor and Timothy Grady. This unique and ambitious project, brings together some of Ireland’s most talented musicians, the writer Timothy O’Grady, and the unique photography of Steve Pyke. Tickets available from www.unionchapel.org.uk £15.00
