Our Plans

Capital build

Since 2015 we have been working on a major plan of fundraising, refurbishment and expansion for our beloved six-storey listed mill building. This began with a huge fundraising project, and now at last the building works themselves are nearing completion.

The  renovation and expansion includes:

A complete transformation of the fifth and sixth storeys where eight new live/work Artist and Maker Residence Spaces now exist after years of emptiness and dereliction. The spaces are the first of their kind in the North West, and will soon offer year-round accommodation and workspace for local, national and international artists. The top storeys also include a vast open space for large-scale art-making, events, communal activities, performance, play and private hire.

A full weatherproofing of the building with brand new windows.

An external elevator to all floors making all floors accessible.

New building entrances.

Newly landscaped courtyard.

 

The total cost for the capital project has been £2.5 million. Our generous funding has come from:

Arts Council England, who have given £928,000 from their large scale capital programme.

Salford City Council, who have given £330,000 to our project to secure a creative home for artists in the city.

The National Lottery Heritage Fund, who have given £746,000 to protect and share the longevity of our landmark working heritage building.

Plus £475,000 raised by the Islington Mill community of tenants, artists, friends, family, supporters and audiences in a dynamic artist-led fundraising campaign, along with generous corporate and in-kind support of many kinds.

This means that our tenancy of this magnificent building is secured so there will be artists at Islington Mill for many years to come, thanks to all of you.

We want to thank every single person who has supported us in any way, be that financially, emotionally, with skills, resources and ideas and more. Every donation and each gesture has assisted us to get where we are today.

Here’s to a bright future at Islington Mill, together.

 

European Regional Development Fund, The Other City and New Islington Mill

In 2020 a £3.3 million grant from the European Regional Development Fund enabled us to enter a partnership with Salford City Council to purchase and refurb New Islington Mill, the 1920s mill building with which we share a courtyard. The updated mill building will soon house more Islington MIll artists with a particular focus on sound and music. This incredible expansion in our footprint is part of our vision for The Other City, a project that also takes in our artist spaces on Regent Trading Estate. The fund will ensure the sustainability of a diverse creative neighbourhood in our part of Salford that will resist the ongoing gentrification of the area and safeguard creative space. The funding also includes the provision of free training opportunities for artists and small businesses which we have created under our WEAVE programme and in partnership with The Women’s Org.