£7million to transform historic mill
Cash will create workspace for artistic community
ONE of Salford’s most historic buildings has been awarded a multi-million pound grant to enable its refurbishment and growth.
Islington Mill is one of only 16 remaining heritage mills in Salford and is recognised globally for its creative, artist-led community.
It’s now been awarded key European funding to enable its transformation.
The project, named ‘The Other City’, will be supported with a £3.3m grant from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) in collaboration with Salford council.
The funds will enable the mill to build 25,000 sq ft of new workspace, and to create new products and services.
It plans to continue to support already-successful artists while providing training, education and early career opportunities for budding new artists.
The building has supported more than 4,000 artists over the last two decades, most notably the early2000s indie band The Ting Tings and Channel 4’s Drag SOS.
It’s hoped the project will cement Salford’s standing as a ‘city of makers’.
Maurice Carlin, one of the founding directors at Islington Mill, said: “From its outset as an artist-led endeavour, Islington Mill has been looking out beyond its walls towards the wider world.
“Over our 20 years, we have invited creative people to Salford from across Europe and the world to share their stories and knowledge, and to make new work in our city.
“We are excited that The Other City will offer vital and timely support to Salford and Manchesterbased creative people wishing to develop their careers and businesses.
“We hope this will provide many creative businesses with a lifeline in these tough times.”
The new development will be inspired by the artistic community at Liverpool’s Baltic Triangle, with one of its co-founders Erika Rushton also involved in the Salford project.
Other funds will come from Arts Council England, National Heritage Lottery Fund, Architectural Heritage Fund, The Women’s Organisation, Islington Mill Arts Club, founder Bill Campbell, by the innumerable artists and their audiences who contributed gigs, performances and art works, and 100 temporary custodians who bought into a shared ownership art-work donated by Maurice Carlin.
Salford City Mayor Paul Dennett said: “This project is a testament to the importance of true partnership working between Islington Mill Arts Club and Salford City Council, drawing on their different strengths in achieving a common aspiration.”