Community arts centre closes despite appeal efforts

Applecart Arts has announced that it will close its doors after falling short on a fundraising campaign to save the East London arts centre.

In a statement, Applecart Arts said the decision came despite “every effort” to sustain the organisation and credited the “tremendous support” it had received from patrons, artists, and friends.

“After years of serving as a vibrant hub for creativity, storytelling, and community connection, we must say farewell,” the statement said.

“[It] was more than a venue – it was a family, a collective, and a challenge to local leaders, showing what could be achieved if the local authority placed more faith and investment in its grassroots organisations. 

Addressing the local community, it added: “Your generosity during our campaign to save the charity was humbling to all of us who were fighting to keep our venue alive.”

Writing on X, the Minister of State for Social Security and Disability and MP for East Ham Stephen Timms said: “I deeply regret this closure, a huge blow to East Ham.

“We owe Applecart a great deal for their enormous, positive contribution in our community. It’s very disappointing the [Arts Council England] grant did not materialise. We now need this superb venue very quickly brought back into use.”

Urgent appeal

Founded in 2008, Applecart became a charity in 2011. It received no regular public funding but was used by local community groups and schools and was partnered with East London University.

The venue housed a 50-seat theatre, art studios and a community café.

In October, the venue was one of several art centres that issued urgent funding appeals, warning that it needed to raise £15,000 within two weeks and a further £85,000 by Christmas to keep its facilities open.

As of 3 January, the arts centre’s crowdfunding appeal had raised £9,970 from 185 supporters in 81 days.

Applecart’s artistic director, Peter Moreton, previously described the venue as a “vital lifeline” for the area, which would be a “tragedy” to lose.

“We have new contracts and funding coming online in the new year, but we need support over the next three months to keep our doors open in the meantime and to continue to provide space and support for artists who are planning to premiere their work at our venue,” he told BBC in October.

‘At the forefront of culture across London’

Throughout December performers’ union Equity campaigned and rallied to support Applecart. The organisation’s theatre official, Charlotte Bence, called on the Mayor of Newham to “get the chequebook out and save Applecart Arts.” 

“The loss of an important community space is something that must be resisted.

“It is important that creative workers who live in Newham have the ability to develop and present their work in their own local area, in spaces that are part of their community and that provide a springboard to other venues in London and beyond.”

On 16 December, the union sent a deputation of Newham residents to a full meeting of Newham Council to discuss the impact Applecart’s closure would have on the borough and to ask for a critical investment of £100,000.

At the meeting, Newham resident and Equity representative Stephanie Soh read a statement from Applecart’s artistic director Peter Moreton.

“During the launch of Newham’s London Borough of Culture bid, the mayor stated, ‘I want Newham to be at the forefront of culture across London and beyond, creating lasting change and benefits that will be felt by all our residents, as well as making Newham a destination and home for the very best cultural and creative organisations.’

“I wonder how the local authority think that this desire could come into fruition if it doesn’t begin supporting or at least talking to the grassroots organisations that might bring it about?”

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Newham Council is facing a £175m budget black hole over the next three years. More than half of this is attributed to rising temporary accommodation costs, as the borough has the highest number of households in temporary accommodation in the country.