IKLECTIK - Beyond a Venue

by [email protected] in London, Greater London, United Kingdom

We did it
On 1st March 2024 we successfully raised £63,815 with 628 supporters in 42 days

We are raising £55,000 to keep IKLECTIK alive and propel it into its next chapter.

by [email protected] in London, Greater London, United Kingdom

OUR STORY

Since 2014, IKLECTIK has been a grassroots hub for experimental art, offering a unique space for unconventional creative expressions in the heart of London’s Waterloo. With the support of our incredible community, we have grown our home into a space like no other, hosting 1700+ shows, 21 festivals, and 23 fundraisers over 10 years, and welcoming more than 60,000 people through our doors.

Beyond a venue, IKLECTIK has become a sanctuary where education, research, and creativity converge. We are proud to not only have collaborated with emerging and established international artists, but also leading universities, record labels and  cutting-edge technology organisations, while providing a platform for people of all backgrounds to explore the world of experimental, 3D and ambisonic sound. 

On 20th January, the IKLECTIK community bid a heartbreaking farewell to our home in Old Paradise Yard, as it became yet another of London’s independent music spaces lost to property development. As we close our doors, we know that losing our venue leaves a huge void in London’s cultural landscape. 

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WE WANT TO KEEP IKLECTIK ALIVE!

Although we have been forced to leave our venue, we see this as just the beginning of our next sonic chapter. We want to keep working for our community and we have lots of exciting plans in the works, including new international collaborations and ongoing projects with Goldsmiths and Stanford University.

With the Music Venue Trust reporting that the UK is losing one independent venue each week, we believe it is more important than ever that we fight to preserve London’s experimental scene. For IKLECTIK, this means not only providing a platform for artists to perform, but crucially, cultivating a thriving ecosystem, where creators can come together to innovate, take risks and develop the sonic ideas of tomorrow.

However, losing our venue has meant we’ve also lost our income streams, and we find ourselves in the position of needing urgent interim cash support to help us move from one sonic chapter of IKLECTIK into the next. 


OUR VISION: 

THE ART LAB

For our next iteration, our vision and immediate focus is the ART LAB. We want to build a unique and dedicated creative hub, where experimentalists across all disciplines can come together to push the boundaries of their field. 

Providing a crucial space to experiment and test out new ideas, the ART LAB will host artist residencies, R&D programmes and workshops, becoming a catalyst for creativity, collaboration and wellbeing. 

We see the ART LAB as a vital incubator for the future of our scene. Through harnessing our years of experience, our passion and all our brilliant equipment, we want to use the ART LAB to open up opportunities to artists at all levels, while providing much-needed access to AV tools, listening resources, co-working space, a library and a specialist bookshop.

…. and that’s not all!

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THE NOMADIK PROGRAMME

Although we have lost our venue, live events will always be a big part of what we do, as well as one of the most important ways that we connect with and give back to our audiences. 

We’re so proud of the incredible moments we helped create in our Waterloo home, welcoming UK and international artists, while uniting audiences from all backgrounds, generations and walks of life, for events that were truly unforgettable. And now we want to hit the road! 

By collaborating with grassroots venues across London, the UK and beyond, we believe we can not only continue delivering incredible experiences for our existing audiences, but also reach new ones, while providing a roaming platform for emergent and established artists alike. 

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BEYOND A VENUE

Our journey forward isn't solely about survival; it's about resilience. By securing a transformative space for artists and researchers, as well as bringing IKLECTIK events to even more people, we believe we can not only save IKLECTIK, but also play a pivotal role in securing the future of sound, art and innovation.


HOW YOU CAN HELP

We’re exploring all funding options open to us, and are confident that if we just get through this critical time, we can provide a strong, sustainable business model for years to come. But right now, we need to ask for your help.  

WHAT THE MONEY WILL BE USED FOR:

  • Rent and deposit for the ART LAB space for the first 6 months
  • Soundproofing and building setup costs
  • Running costs - insurance, internet, utilities, IT, staff overheads
  • Production costs for the NOMADIK programme
  • Residencies and workshops

We’ve set a minimum target of £55,000 to cover these costs. If we don't meet our target, Crowdfunder will hold any funds raised for a short time to allow us to look for other sources of funding that could make up any shortfall. If we cannot proceed with the project for any reason, then all donations will be refunded in full.

This is more than a fundraising campaign; it's a call to action. Your contribution will not only help save IKLECTIK  - it will be a vital asset in the future of experimental art, preserving a cultural legacy for generations to come. 

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IKLECTIK PATRONAGE

As part of our Crowdfunder, we are also looking for IKLECTIK Patrons.

These are changemakers who are looking to play a pivotal role in supporting the future of experimental sound. As a Patron, your name will be listed on our website and on the wall of our ART LAB, and we will ensure you are first in line for exclusive benefits going forward. 


WHAT PEOPLE SAY ABOUT IKLECTIK

Here are some nice things people have said about us:


"London has, in gracious exchange, been blessed by years of astounding programming from the performance venue IKLECTIK which has been recently shut down due to real estate issues. The presentations which IKLECTIK has offered to its audiences of adventurous music, mixed with an open forum of interdisciplinary arts, mostly on the cutting edge of radical concepts and expression, is a loss to a city which has historically prided itself as a global light of progressive culture. We must move forward and locate any new space for the welfare of the arts community which, in essence, is messaging an interactive education of art in service to the beneficent strength of local unity. We must support IKLECTIK and their vision of goodwill. Art and music is our news in a world so in need of positive energy." 

- Thurston Moore, musician (Sonic Youth)


"There was never a venue I missed as many great nights at, as IKLECTIK! Due to general logistics in my life I wasn’t able to attend many events but I always felt at home and inspired there. There was often something I wished I could get to and had huge FOMO from friends who’d make it, play or work at IKLECTIK!" 

Imogen Heap, musician


"IKLECTIK is a space where I can unfurl my practice in any direction I want, where I can develop new guises or just be myself. Every time I perform there I feel like they have my back, from technical sound requirements, to visuals, lighting and space ambience. You always feel like a part of an extended family and included in a wider artistic community. They have become a crucial part of my life as an artist working in London and I cannot imagine this city and beyond without them." 

- Alexander Tucker, musician


"The first time I walked onto the grounds to soundcheck for a performance at IKLECTIK was like entering a creative utopia amidst a suffocating sea of capitalism. Isa and Eduard emanated passion and complete professionalism and were consummate hosts which resulted in a memorable and amazing night supported by a great attentive crowd. IKLECTIK has been a London haven for experimental music and will be deeply missed." - Penelope Trappes, musician


"I've had the pleasure of working with IKLECTIK and I can testify to the commitment, professionalism and passion that drive this team. The quantity and quality of the events they have organised and the projects they have led is extremely impressive. I sincerely hope that, despite the very unfortunate loss of their space, they will be able to continue their mission, which occupies a vital place in the London cultural ecosystem." - François J. Bonnet, Head of Ina GRM, France

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THANK YOU!

We cannot thank you enough for your support. As we venture into our next sonic chapter, it means so much to have you with us on this journey. 

With love,

IKLECTIK team x

Rewards

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£500 or more

Become an IKLECTIK Patron

We are looking for changemakers to play a pivotal role in supporting the future of experimental sound. As an IKLECTIK Patron, your name will be listed on our website and on the wall of our ART LAB, and we will ensure you are first in line for exclusive benefits going forward.

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