VFDALSTON C.I.C. needs your help to support our extended community arts programming at our new accessible sober queer art space in East London.

By and for the QTBIPOC community, VFD is one of only two independently owned and operated QTBIPOC-led venues in London. We welcome the support of allies who understand that we need help to keep the integrity of our community.

VFDALSTON C.I.C is a not-for-profit organisation that has a proven track record of serving the community for over 15 years from our grassroots basement venue in East London.

Our combined venues programming including the new premises, will allow us to support over 800 artists and produce over 200 performances and events per year.

Our street facing Window Gallery features work of over 30 individuals, activists groups and collectives who share our belife of improving lives and building the community through the arts. With 3k views per day.

We look to make art accessible to all, we believe art fundamentally changes lives and is central to a healthy society.

VFD is recognised as an incubator of grassroots artists and movements.

We have been invited to presented work at Tate Britain, Tate Modern, ICA, The Barbican, Glastonbury Festival and at arts festivals in New Zealand and Australia.

Artists we have supported have made significant artworks that have been recognised nationally and internationally from Turner prize nominees to building internationally recognised design brands.

As a progressive art maker, VFD has a large public reach and has been reviewed in everything from DIY zines to British Vogue and voted number one night out in Time Out 2019.

In recognition of the importance of our programming our website is archived as part of the British Library collection.

How do we support ?

We work with artists, performers, designers, musicians, filmmakers, curators, dancers, directors, producers, set designers and arts collectives

Offering weekday and weekend programming from 10 am to 10 pm. Delivering regular weekly and monthly arts events to build new art communities.

Offering Intimate, acoustic performances and show and independent community film screenings.

Monthly exhibitions showing the work of artists, collectives and activists. We look to raise the visibility of individuals and causes that are not represented in the mainstream.

Working with local community organisations and arts networks to build greater social cohesion.

Holding workshops and classes to allow everyone access to the arts.

Artists will have access to music equipment and technical support and post-production facilities.

Artists will have access to photographic and video equipment, technical support and post-production facilities.

Helping individuals and groups to access funding opportunities with Funding Workshops supported by arts producers and grant writers.

Offering funded residencies with technical support and help with professional development.

Access to kitchen and bathroom facilities allows cultural community groups to support generational arts-making and community building. This is especially true for indigenous cultural groups.

Changing lives by building arts communities and providing access to services.

Why a new queer space ?

New Sober space. The majority of LGBTQI+ venues are run as profit-making enterprises predicated on selling alcohol and partying. Not all of us are comfortable in these spaces nor do they represent or support the cultural diversity of the Queer community.

Third Spaces / Improving mental health. Our community increasingly suffers from poor mental health with high rates of social anxiety, self-harm and high incidents of addiction to alcohol, sex and drugs. We need spaces to come together, hang out and heal as a community.

Signposting to social services. We are looking to signpost welfare services. Working with trusted organisations as we look to build integrated housing, health and legal services. These are long term goals.

Queer families space. We are responding to a call from queer families to provide a space for them, especially for young trans and non-binary people and their families.

A lack of Queer office space in London. We are looking to help the professional development of artists with access to office equipment and space and especially to help the QTBIPOC community which suffers from less visibility and access.

A venue space that is accessible to all. We have a high number of neurodivergent individuals within the community and most venues do not cater to their requirements in terms of lighting, audio and seating. Our new venue will also be accessible by wheelchair with an accessible bathroom on the ground floor.

Supporting queer faith groups. Making sure that queers from all faith backgrounds are welcome and can find a safe space in our venue.