Dear Friends,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s with the heaviest of hearts that I write to you confirming that South London\u2019s favourite \u201cplayground\u201d for adults is being threatened with closure at the end of the Summer. We just about made it to 10 years but more astoundingly we managed to navigate a pandemic and multiple lockdowns (and not without your considerable support and the financial input from the Arts Council of Great Britain). We managed to survive when many of our brothers and sisters in the industry didn\u2019t. Unfortunately the one thing we can not compete with is an astronomical rent rise. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yep, that\u2019s right we are being priced out of our home.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s been a rocky road to recovery but in recent months we\u2019ve seen the studio reaching full capacity as everyone from the pros, weekend warriors and the rising rockstars of tomorrow have been eager to create again. We are proud that from the very first day we opened our doors we\u2019ve experienced a diverse range of artists, bands and performers, all from differing backgrounds and influences. Many of you have also become friends and comrades too. There are multiple associations and partnerships we\u2019ve made including our favourite venue, The Windmill and local music charity Grounded Sounds who do essential work educating and engineering music related opportunities for the local youth population. BXHS is more than an industrial unit with some amps and drums stuck inside it, we\u2019ve become a part of the community, a community it has been a pleasure to serve and support for the last 10 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As well as rehearsals we have made some fantastic records here, not only on tape and digital but there was also the time someone insisted we mixed their songs on to cassette. We\u2019ve put on some unforgettable all dayers, Christmas parties and put out a few records of your awesome tunes. We held open days and band merch markets. We\u2019ve housed music teachers and their aspiring students from the get go, making sure everyone has somewhere to make noise. Some of us remember the opening night party where we received a surprise visit from Pixies\u2019s Black Francis. For many of us this place has been a constant in our lives since the days it was a single room studio at the back of Unit 2.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So what are we going to do now? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n We are doing everything we can to keep BXHS running. If not here then at a new site. Even if we have to shut down for a little while we shall let you know with as much notice as possible so you can make alternative arrangements. It\u2019s a big old job to dismantle and rebuild somewhere else. We only have 4 months in which to find somewhere suitable that is also within budget and sustainable for the next 10-20 years. <\/p>\n\n\n\n But this is something we need, right? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The few people we have shared this information with have already asked \u201cis there anything we can do\u201d? For now you can sign up to our mailing list (see below) and join the Brixton Hill Studios Preservation Society on FB<\/a>. All progress will be posted there before the wider socials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the meantime if you would like to share some pictures and stories of your times here at BXHS please do so on our socials or tag us in in your stories and posts. All the emotional support given to us helps us to fight the good fight and, in every sense, go into battle. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThere is history in this place<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n There are dragons to be chased\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Skull by Sebadoh Watch this space, as they say\u2026<\/p>\n \n\n
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