Venue operator and experience creator Broadwick Group, which operates its largest venue, Drumshed, has announced the launch of new charity 9.8 to spearhead community engagement across its portfolio.
Since opening Drumshed in October 2023, 9.8 has distributed 5,000 free event tickets to people who wouldn’t have been able to attend otherwise, as well as partnering with charities and local organisations to offer space for free or at a subsidised rate.
Elisa Chiodi, head of 9.8, explains:
“Place-making and community bonding around our venues is one of our main goals. We are passionate about making culture available to everyone. Through 9.8 we will strive to remove barriers and provide resources for communities and charities to use our spaces as well as make tickets available to individuals who, for any reason, cannot access it. We are proud to have reached the milestone of 5,000 tickets sold. Now it’s time to tell the world that we want to invite people to collaborate and work with us across London and beyond. By 2027 we aim to work with 100 charities, community groups and artists. Please get in touch.”
The name 9.8 refers to the Earth’s mean gravitational force, 9.8 metres squared per second. We create a cultural centre of gravity where people from all walks of life can come together to experience the transformative power of music, art and culture. The charity puts accessibility at the heart of its work, engaging individuals regardless of socio-economic status, geographic location, physical ability or access needs.
Simeon Aldred, founder of 9.8 and strategic director at Broadwick, added: “9.8 is a game changer.
“Accessibility, openness and inviting people into these unusual spaces is at the core of the vision for Drumshed and all our venues. We have always been part of the local community; 13,000 people have used Printworks for free and 6,000 have enjoyed Silverworks Island. We also had a community paper garden behind the press hall at Printworks. Setting up a charity organisation has provided a more structured and fair process, allowing even more individuals, charities and communities to participate in our venues and events. We bring so much to the local community beyond the music, and 9.8 is a way of expanding our social impact.”
This May, we teamed up with Movember to host the Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride, bringing together hundreds of bikers to raise awareness for men’s mental health and prostate cancer research. Designed to create meaningful connections and cultural exchange, the event took place at Drumsheds and was one of 959 events across 105 countries that raised $52.6 million.
In July 2024, 9.8 partnered with Hackney Flea Market to bring their popular event to Tottenham, creating the largest market in London. Designed to raise awareness of the local area, the pop-up market featured the most diverse flea and vintage market traders from across the country, with a portion of each trader’s exhibit fees donated to 9.8. The event showcased the city’s vibrant flair and inclusivity, and was free for community members to attend.
Broadwick Live During the Autumn/Winter 2024 season, 9.8 will be working with Broadwick Live and Aurora Orchestra to invite local borough schools to Drumsheds to discover the world of orchestral music.
Elisa Chiodi will lead the charity’s efforts to leverage 9.8’s space to work with individuals and organizations interested in revitalizing their community. [NS2] Community Programmes. Anyone interested in working with 9.8 can visit the website and complete an Expression of Interest form, which will be reviewed by the charity’s trustees.
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