License granted for Ormside Projects

Beep Studio is proud to announce its collaboration with Ormside Projects, transforming their South East London HQ into a fully licensed venue.

Ormside Projects has been a hub for emerging artists, musicians, and performers since its inception in 2015. By showcasing an eclectic range of events, performances, and installations, Ormside Projects has become a catalyst for innovation, pushing boundaries and challenging traditional norms.

The transition to a licensed venue brings a multitude of benefits, including:

• Expanded programming to include larger-scale events

• Attracting Nationally and Internationally acclaimed artists and musicians

• Increased revenue opportunities through the sale of alcoholic beverages

• Ensuring a sustainable financial model for the project space.

Beep Studio's extensive experience in supporting grass-roots creative organisations aligns neatly with Ormside Projects' vision. By working together, Beep Studio and Ormside Projects have unlocked the full potential of the space, enhancing its feel and ensuring its sustainability while complying with necessary regulations.

Beep Studio’s work on the project included
- Liaising with local authorities
- Submitting drawings and information to statutory bodies
- Ensuring compliance with building regulations
and associated managerial tasks.

"We are thrilled to collaborate with Ormside Projects on this ambitious project," said Beep Studio Director Ed Holloway. "Our team is committed to helping creative spaces thrive and providing a platform for emerging artists to showcase their talent. By helping Ormside Projects become a licensed venue, we can contribute to the vibrant arts and music scene in the borough."

Reviving a Venue With ‘Sister Midnight’

Sister Midnight is a not-for-profit co-operative arts organisation based in south east London.

After two years of campaigning, the Sister Midnight team has found a home in a former working men's club in the heart of Catford Town Centre. Working with Beep Studio, they will create Lewisham's first community owned music venue, bringing a much needed cultural community hub to South East London. 

The team unanimously selected Beep Studio to work with them as Architect bringing Catford’s Brookdale Club back into use. As a derelict venue for some years, and positioned in the middle of a lively community, the project holds many special challenges which Beep Studio (with our history of working with arts organisations in existing buildings) is uniquely positioned to resolve. The team has secured a 10 year lease on the site from Lewisham Council, subject to a peppercorn rent

As of today, the SM team has raised over £268k in fundraising, and is working hard to raise the remainder: you can help them reach their goal by becoming a member here.

Meanwhile Beep Studio has been working to survey the existing building, to build up the consultant team, and to prepare drawings and collate information, with a full Planning Application poised to go in any minute now…

We’ll share updates here as work progresses :
Lots more to see over at Sister Midnight’s Instagram page.

“Live music is the beating heart of South East London, but for too long we’ve seen venue after venue close their doors for good, so it’s time to try something new. Sister Midnight is South East London’s answer to a growing movement of cultural & community businesses who are pioneering new ideas and ways of working that combat the tired capitalist models that have been failing our cultural institutions for decades. Our vision is of a music venue that is owned and democratically controlled by the community; a space that champions local creative talent, and prioritises people above profit. Sister Midnight is a chance to re-imagine the role of a contemporary music venue, providing a transformational opportunity for our local area setting a precedent for how things can be done differently.”

— Sister Midnight

Music Venue Trust appoints Ed Holloway as 'Guru'

Music Venue Trust has recognised Beep Studio Director Ed Holloway’s knowledge and expertise by adding him to their team of ‘Gurus'. The Trust is a UK Registered Charity which acts to protect, secure and improve UK Grassroots Music Venues for the benefit of venues, communities and upcoming artists.

In recent years, Beep Studio has garnered extensive experience working with grass roots music, community and arts organisations and their venues across London. The Studio has been supporting a number of venues facing challenging situations, including:

• Ormside Projects

• The Rising Sun Housing Cooperative

• The Cause

The MVT team has often worked in parallel with Ed and the Beep Studio team in helping these groups achieve Licensing and Planning Permissions.

When venues at risk approach the Charity for support, the ‘emergency response team’ of Gurus steps in to provide initial advice depending on their circumstances - Ed will be one of these responders, adding his skills and experience to the team.

Beep Studio offers useful, targeted professional services to organisations on topics such as:

• Licensing

• Planning

• Design and

• Operations

Ed says:

“I’m excited to expand our connections with the Music Venue scene in London and across the country, and to share our experiences helping venues currently facing extremely difficult commercial and societal situations.”     

Some of the Gurus - a wide range of skills and expertise.

Our First Decade

This month Beep Studio turns ten years old - so it’s time to celebrate:-

• Ten years of collaboration and creation

• Ten years of facilitation and communication

• Ten years of experimentation and innovation

Celebrating Collaboration
Huge thanks go out to everyone who has supported the Studio along the way: The clients, colleagues and collaborators without whom there would be no projects, and the friends, family, and communities who have encouraged, inspired, and supported our work in countless ways. 

In any other year we’d be throwing a mixer party to get you allrubbing shoulders, wagging chins, and tapping feet. Instead we’re celebrating online by showcasing some of the people who have made an impact on the Studio - colleagues and collaborators, consultants and clients. We’ve been lucky to work with a varied, stimulating bunch, and we don’t often get the chance to sing their praises.

Projects are the Practice
We’ll also be looking back at some of the past projects that have helped the studio to evolve and adapt to a rapidly changing world. Gathering past projects like this can reveal some of the themes that the Studio has become known for, and gives us a platform to discuss some of the wider issues that they encapsulate. For example - who’d have thought that calling a practice Beep Studio would lead to so many sound-related projects?

Future Focus
Since architecture projects have notoriously slow gestation periods, it’s not often we get the chance to share new work. We’re taking this opportunity to look ahead to the post-Covid future, with sneak peeks of some of the projects we have in the pipeline and that have seen us through a tough year for all businesses. With many people and organisations reevaluating their priorities in light of a changed world, we’re excited to see the focus shifting back to rebuilding and reinforcing communities.

We’re delighted, grateful and slightly amazed to be ten years old - here’s to the next ten!

Cheers to you all,

Ed & Peter

Acoustic Barrier in 'Future Streets' Show

Future Streets by New London Architecture looks at the past, present and future of London’s streets, analysing the current landscape of innovation in mobility technologies, transport policies and urban planning approaches. It presents future scenarios and provokes thinking about what kind of city we want to inhabit and what role technology should play in realising that view.

Beep Studio’s innovative Acoustic Barrier project for Poplar HARCA forms part of the latest research.

More on the project here.

More on Future Streets here.