HELP US SAVE OUR STUDIOS
& PRECIOUS CREATIVE COMMUNITY
Myself and 38 other artists and creative businesses are facing eviction on 1st April by Hackney Council from our studio building & with only 5 weeks notice to find somewhere else and move. We need your help to save it.
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We are asking you to help us save 10-16 Ashwin Street by writing a letter (email) about what the destruction of artists studios across London means to you, and creative areas in general. We are next to Cafe Oto whom we have close relationships with and the Curve Garden, which will be greatly affected and possibly at threat by any development.
The council have decided to sell our building due to safety concerns, though we have been assured all the required work has been carried out by the landlords recently. Given the lack of transparency suddenly culminating in this rapid eviction we fear this most likely an excuse to profiteer from the site for redevelopment. We want to encourage the council to sell to our studio provider who have had the site for 20 years and who I have had a studio with for over 5 years. Some of our community have been here for over 15 years.
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Our studio building has been at the heart of 'The Dalston Plan' which highlights the importance of strengthening this cultural quarter's character - yet suddenly we are being evicted.
Our key points are summarised below along with all key email addresses to send to. If you are short of time, there is also a template you can amend. Inputting some of your own person experience and feelings would be brilliant.
There is a cabinet meeting on the 24th of March to discuss the future of our studio, the direction of this meeting will be affected by letter sent by the 14th March so any letters would ideally be sent before then would be of enormous help.
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Any help is enormously appreciated and thank you so much for your support!
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OPTION 1:
The ideal contribution would be to write your own personalised email about what the demolition of artists spaces mean to you and your community, including some of the key points below.
We Are Being Forced Out of our Studios & our Community
Hackney Council’s decision to evict 39 artists and creative businesses from Ashwin Street will displace a long-standing creative community that has been an integral part of Dalston for nearly two decades. Many of us live and work locally—forcing us out of our studios means pushing us out of Hackney entirely.
The Building is Safe – So Why Are We Being Evicted?
Extensive work has been done over the years to ensure the building is safe for all who use it. The Council has provided no clear justification for why we cannot stay in place while the sale process is ongoing. There is no urgent safety risk—this is a choice, not a necessity.
There Are No Affordable Alternatives
No serious effort to find us alternative workspaces made. The few options presented are either financially unviable or entirely unsuitable for artists and makers, meaning we are left with nowhere to go.
Eviction Will Devastate Dalston’s Creative Community
Ashwin Street is one of the last remaining creative clusters in Dalston. In cabinet meeting there have been plans written up placing strengthening the character of Ashwin Street at its core and now they are evicting 39 working artists and creatives, rip the heart out of Hackney’s cultural economy, affecting local jobs, independent businesses, and the area’s creative identity. Some of us also work with cultural spaces and teach in the neighbouring area, being local to these places enables us to do this while maintaining our personal practices which is key to our engagement with these places.
Selling to a Developer Will Erase a Vital Cultural Space
The Council has not considered the long-term impact of selling Ashwin Street to a private developer. A sale without protections for artists risks destroying a fragile ecosystem that supports local jobs, small creative businesses, and community organisations—including the Dalston Eastern Curve Garden.
We Need a Fair & Sensible Solution
We are calling on Hackney Council to sell the building in a way that protects artists and also allows us to remain while the process is ongoing. The Council has a responsibility to support its creative community—not force it out.
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OPTION 2:
If you are short of time here is a template to Mayor Caroline Woodley you can use. Please amend where possible.
Name:
Address:
Date:
Ms Caroline Woodley
Mayor of Hackney
Hackney Town Hall
Mare Street
London E8 1EA
Subject: Urgent Appeal – Protect Hackney’s Creative and Community Spaces
Dear Ms. Woodley,
I am writing to urgently appeal to Hackney Council to reconsider its decision to sell 10-16 Ashwin Street, home to V22 Dalston Studios. This space has been a cornerstone of Hackney’s creative community for 20 years, and evicting 39 artists and creative businesses with just five weeks’ notice will have lasting consequences—not just for those directly affected, but for the cultural fabric of the Borough.
Hackney’s reputation as a creative hub has been built on the presence of artists, independent businesses, and grassroots organisations that contribute to the borough’s character and economy. The studios at V22 are more than just workplaces—they are a vital part of Dalston’s identity, fostering collaboration, innovation, and community engagement. The loss of yet another cultural
space to redevelopment will accelerate the decline of affordable creative workspaces, making it increasingly difficult for artists to live and work in Hackney.
While the Council has cited safety concerns as justification for the eviction, V22 has already made significant investments in maintaining the building and ensuring it meets required standards. If safety truly is a concern, then urgent discussions should be taking place to find solutions that do not involve displacing an entire creative community with no viable alternatives.
There is a clear and constructive path forward. V22, which has successfully managed the building for nearly 20 years, has made an offer to purchase the site. Supporting this sale to an artist studio provider would allow the studios to continue serving Hackney’s artistic community, preserving jobs, cultural output, and the economic contributions of the creative sector.
I urge Hackney Council to:
• Sell the building to V22 to secure its future as an affordable creative hub.
• Extend the eviction deadline to allow time for a fair and sustainable solution.
• Work with affected tenants to find ways to support Hackney’s artists and creative businesses.
Hackney’s creative sector is one of its greatest strengths, drawing visitors, investment, and a sense of vibrancy to the area. If the Council continues to displace artists in favour of private development, it risks erasing the very identity that makes Hackney unique.
I urge you to take action to protect this vital community space, and I look forward to your response.
Yours sincerely,
Name:
Contact Information:
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An email to one or as many of the following as time permits would mean a great deal
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PLEASE SEND YOUR EMAILS TO:
Hackney councillors and cabinet members:
Caroline Woodley - Mayor of Hackney - mayor@hackney.gov.uk
Guy Nicholson - Member for Homerton ward and Deputy Mayor - guy.nicholson@hackney.gov.uk
Robert Chapman - Member for Homerton ward and Cabinet member - robert.chapman@hackney.gov.uk
Zoe Garbet - Member for Dalston Ward and Second Opposition Group Joint Leader - zoe.garbett@hackney.gov.uk
Grace Adebayo - Member for Dalston ward - grace.adebayo@hackney.gov.uk
And if you've the time!:​
Christopher Kennedy - Cabinet member for health, adult social care, voluntary sector and culture - christopher.kennedy@hackney.gov.uk
Carole Williams - Cabinet member for employment, human Resources and equalities - carole.williams@hackney.gov.uk
Sam Pallis - Deputy cabinet member for inclusive economy - sam.pallis@hackney.gov.uk
Joe Walker - Deputy cabinet member for strengthening neighbourhoods - joe.walker@hackney.gov.uk
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