Max HeyraudSister Midnight confirm a community owned music space operating in Catford, South East London. The team want to champion local live music within their communities while setting a precedent to how music venues can be run sustainably.
Sister Midnight’s previous campaign to create Lewisham’s first community owned music venue back in 2021 when they were on a mission to buy the freehold of a disused local pub, the Ravensbourne Arms. Despite raising £260K through community investment and donations and garnering 800+ investors, the owners of the Ravensbourne Arms were unwilling to sell for a fair price, therefore Sister Midnight began sculpting a new plan that carefully acknowledged the current tumultuous economic environment.
Sister Midnight have worked to secure a ‘meanwhile space’, of which 99%% of the original campaign contributors were keen to continue their support and chose to commit their investment to the new proposals.
Working alongside the Lewisham Council and with support from London’s Night Czar and City Hall’s Culture and Communities Spaces at Risk team, Sister Midnight finally found the perfect site.
“I’m absolutely thrilled that Sister Midnight has secured a location to create Lewisham’s first community-owned live music venue. I am proud that the Mayor’s team have worked alongside these remarkable women to drive forward their vision and I will continue to support them in creating this exciting new venue as we build a better London for everyone.” – Amy Lamé [London’s Night Czar]
Sister Midnight will still be a democratically run, community owned business, giving their community a voice and a say in how things will be done. Profit will be reinvested into the venue, forever, because Community Music Venues are run for and by locals with established democratic processes for governance. With a Community Music Venue , the few don’t get richer, we all do – culturally, socially and communally.
To invest toward the final funds and allow new interest the chance to get involved in a campaign that will make history for the independent music scene in the UK click here.
