Village Underground owners to create £3 million, 2,500-capacity arts centre in London’s Dalston

Owners of Shoreditch venue Village Underground have got the go-ahead on plans to turn a vast, dilapidated cinema in Dalston into a new arts hub. The Art Deco-style Savoy Cinema will be given a £3 million renovation to become the Hackney Arts Centre, hosting “world class cultural events” in its 2,500 capacity space. 

To launch the venue, XL Recordings head Richard Russell will take over the space with live shows tonight and tomorrow (15-16 February) based around his album Everything Is Recorded. Everything is Recorded in Residence will feature performances by album collaborators Sampha, Ibeyi, Infinite, Obongjayar, Mela Murder, Green Gartside and Rachel Zeffira. The shows are sold out but rehearsals are open to the public from 6-8pm.

Artist Toby Ziegler has also created an audio-visual installation for the first floor, also free to the public. 

The venue on Stoke Newington Road was built in 1936 but has laid abandoned since the early 80s. It is being revamped with the backing of a £1.9 million investment from Big Issue Invest, The Arts Impact Fund and Triodos Bank. Through a partnership with arts charity Community Music, the centre will feature a programme to engage young people in Hackney with the arts.