An art, fashion and exhibition centre in Bloomsbury renowned as a bastion of independent culture reopened its doors after being thrown a financial lifeline following rising rent costs.
The Horse Hospital management team were granted a three-month lease extension to remain in their beloved building while more permanent plans to stay put were being negotiated.
Thanks to support from private arts organisations and the Culture and Community Spaces at Risk Programme, renovations and expanded programming have been made possible, ensured the continued availability of space for the acclaimed Wardrobe Collection and other exhibitions.
The Horse Hospital Collective member George Lynch said: “It’s been running as a sort of DIY Art Space for a long time and there have been many, many, very highly publicised like campaigns to save it.
“I really, really believe in DIY culture and it really does feel like this very special kind of magic, like an act of defiance to exist in Zone One, operating as we do.
“I do think it’s a testament to Roger and his willpower and defiance that we’ve managed to withstand flow of inevitability that the city is only ever temporarily a home to anything that isn’t profit led.”
The Horse Hospital is a Grade II listed, non profit venue, built in 1797 as a stable for horses, and eventually, a hospital for sick ones.
Established in 1993 by stylist and collector Roger K. Burton, the venue opened with ‘Vive Le Punk!’ – a retrospective of Vivienne Westwood’s punk designs.
Initially looking for a space to house his fashion archive, The Contemporary Wardrobe Collection is still running as a business inside The Horse Hospital today, in which people can hire the clothes for films, shoots and fashion research.
George said: ”We are doing quite substantial renovations, like upgrading the tech and a change of management.
“It’s now going to be run by a collective which is which will, on day to day, be myself and two other people.”
The Mayor’s Culture and Community Spaces at Risk programme, launched in 2016, aims to support and provide resources to protect and grow spaces with cultural and community value in London, including art centres like The Horse Hospital.
The Mayor of London’s Culture and Community Spaces at Risk programme was launched in 2016, and aims to support and provide resources to protect and grow spaces with cultural and community value in the city.
A Mayor of London spokesperson said: “For many years, The Horse Hospital has been an important venue for art, film, fashion, literature and music in central London.
“City Hall has supported the operators as they negotiate a new lease, with plans to turn the entire building into an arts and event space.
“We are committed to supporting venues across the capital as we build a better London for everyone.”
With its new lease of life, The Horse Hospital enters its next chapter as a rare and resilient beacon of independent culture.
Event attendee Oli Appleyard said: “I love how it feels like it’s off the beaten track, even though its in central London.
“The team have done a great job revamping, but have kept all its originality and character.”
To find out more about upcoming events, visit The Horse Hospital’s website.
All pictures: Elicia Valentine Jones
Join the discussion