Introducing Cultural Hackney

Cultural Hackney is a brand new grant fund from Hackney Council which aims to support communities to deliver cultural activities that reflect and celebrate the borough's rich diversity and heritage. 

The first round was launched in January 2024, attracting 111 applications. A total of 12 grants were awarded to a diverse range of organisations, most of whom have not previously received funding from the Council’s Culture team.

The funded projects take place at various times from April to November this year.  Some projects are for specific community groups only, others are aimed at targeted age groups or communities and some are open to all.  We hope that you find something of interest for you!

Check out the full list of bookable and drop-in activities below:

The Queer History of Us - by Ballet Queer

Every Tuesday Until 28 May, 6.30pm-9pm

Shoreditch Town Hall, 380 Old Street, London, EC1V 9LT

Delve into your Queer journeys with Ballet Queer's founder and choreographer Jonathan Watkins and creative collaborator Araminta Wraith in partnership with Shoreditch Town Hall. Exploring identity through movement and ballet in a safe space with dialogue, 1-1 discussions and sharing.

You can take part in any number of the six workshops. Sessions are designed for people to attend just one, or all of them, although we would love to see people come back each week, and have the opportunity to build community over the six weeks.

Suitable for: Hackney-based LGBTQ+ participants without formal dance training. Ages 18+ with no upper age limit We hope to foster intergenerational communities of queer people by creating a sense of belonging and solidarity throughout the workshop.

The workshop leads are experienced in adapting practical workshops to be available and accessible to all bodies, including participants who are disabled and chronically ill.

Price: Free.

Access: For details of Shoreditch Town Hall’s accessibility as a venue please visit here.

or call 020 7739 6176.

Sounds Like Home - by Counterpoints Arts

Every Wednesday until 26 June, 10.30am-12.30pm

Hoxton Hall, 130 Hoxton Street, London, N1 6SH

Sounds Like Home is a weekly choir project inviting international women from a wide range of backgrounds to celebrate their diverse heritage through music by Counterpoints Arts.

Participants share and sing songs that remind them of home, delving into the stories, languages, and genres that shape their cultural identities. The project aims to build a vibrant community, connecting women through the universal language of song.

Suitable for:  Everyone self-defining as an internation woman, ages 18+.

Price: Free.

Access:  For details of Hoxton Hall’s accessibility as a venue please visit here.

No booking is required. Just turn up, or email hello@counterpoints.org.uk;

The London School of Architecture's Hackney Pavilion

Monday 3 - Monday 24 June, 12noon-6pm.

The London School of Architecture, 4 Beechwood Road, London, E8 3DY

The London School of Architecture is taking part in this year’s London Festival of Architecture, designing and building a timber pavilion in collaboration with Young Hackney, Rio Cinema, Hackney School of Food, RIBA Youth Forum, Open City, Drawing Matter, HomeGrown Plus, Architecture Foundation Young Trustees, East and more. 

The pavilion and partners will host exhibitions, workshops, talks and film screenings that showcase outstanding initiatives of community organisations that engage with young people in shaping the built environment.

The Pavilion has been designed and built in collaboration with Arup, New School of Furniture Making and Orsman Construction with generous donations from the Marchus Trust, WISA, Latham Timber and E Roberts Timber.

Suitable for:  100 local young people aged 11-25 years old.

Price: Free.

Access: The London School of Architecture and the pavilion will be wheelchair accessible.  Accessible bathroom facilities and secure bicycle storage will also be provided.

Saigon Superfly! - by Centre 151 - VLC

Sunday 23 June, 4pm-10pm

Centre 151, 151 Whiston Road, London, E2 8GU

Inspired by retro Vietnamese music, Saigon Superfly! brings together Vietnamese musicians with a broader line-up of live DJs and artists, melding styles such as free improvisation, jazz, contemporary new music and more. We invite all to come dressed up in a “Vietnam 1960-70’s” inspired style to dive into an immersive evening of performances. Homemade Vietnamese food will be available to purchase and beer will be on sale for people ages 18+.

Some of the information will be translated into Vietnamese.  Presented by Centre 151.

Suitable for:  Everyone, family friendly.

Price: Free.

Access: Please note that Centre 151 is not wheelchair accessible.

No need to book. This is a drop-in event with limited capacity on a first-come, first-served basis.

Re-imagining Cultural Symbols - by East and Southeast Asian Community Centre (formerly known as Hackney Chinese Community Services)

July-Mid August, specific dates and times to be confirmed

East and Southeast Asian Community Centre, 12-13 Englefield Road, London, N1 4LS

As part of Hackney Chinese Community Services’ relocation and opening of ESEACC (East and Southeast Asian Community Centre) this summer, the centre will be running a series of collage workshops to be displayed in the new building.

Participants will be invited to bring something for the collage. This can be cut from a magazine, newspaper, packaging, label or even just a word or character related to one's heritage and background; and to reimagine identity in a creative and fun collage workshop. 

Suitable for:  Everyone, all ages

Cost: Free

Access: This project is accessible to those who do not speak English but can speak Cantonese and Mandarin Chinese and Polish. English-speaking people are also welcome. The building has wheelchair access but there is no parking. 

Booking details to follow.

Haile Selassie Jah Rastafari - by Gillett Square Action Group

Tuesday 23 July, 2pm-9pm

Gillett Square, Dalston, N16 8AZ

Gillett Square Action Group invites you to celebrate the birthday of Emperor Haile Selassie.

A free family-friendly event with live Nyabinghi drumming and chanting, steel pan, Jah Prophecies Sound, Gillett Square Domino Club, PopUp Playground, authentic Ethiopian coffee and food from Kaffa Coffee and Caribbean food from Ewarts Jerk. One Love, Jah Rastafari!

Suitable for:  All ages.

Price: Free.

Access: Gillett Square has step-free access.

No booking is required, just turn up.

A Trio of Queer Cinema: Reflecting Our Roots on the Silver Screen - by Maqfa UK

Until 11 October, 6pm/6.30pm - 8pm/8.30pm

Hackney venues are detailed below

Join Maqfa UK (Mesopotamian and Anatolian Queers for Azadî) for a vibrant journey of queer cinema from our region as we paint our community with bold, out-and-proud rainbow hues.

The next screening is Wednesday 4 September.

Suitable for: Everyone ages 18+.

Cost: £7. Concessions / free ticket options are available for those who can't afford.

Access:  Film screenings are in both English and Turkish.

Venue: Arcola Theatre, 24 Ashwin Street, Dalston, London, E8 3DL;

Rio Cinema, 107 Kingsland High Street, London E8 2PB;

Turkish - Kurdish Halkevi, 31-33 Dalston Lane, London, E8 3DF.

Community tour of the Charedi community - by The Interlink Foundation

Hackney-based community groups are invited by The Interlink Foundation to take part in an immersive tour of the vibrant cultures and traditions of the Charedi community in Hackney.  These tours will showcase the unique cultural fabric of the Charedi community, highlighting the contributions of various cultural groups and institutions such as voluntary organisations, schools, and synagogues.

Suitable for: Everyone.

Price: Free.

To book a tour, contact admin@interlink-foundation.org.uk.