Rehearsal and performance space
Guidance for individuals or organisations looking to find rehearsal and performance space in Islington.
Islington Council venues free community hire scheme
Each year, we are pleased to offer eight Islington community groups, schools and colleges, arts and cultural organisations free hire of Islington Assembly Hall and Town Hall meeting rooms.
There are two different packages depending on the nature of the event and the number of guests and audiences. We reserve the right to decide on the option most suitable for your event.
Application dates
The Application window for Round 2 hires from June to December 2024 has now closed. Please see the table future application dates.
If you want more information or have a question about the scheme, email Laura Worsley at culture@islington.gov.uk.
| Year and application round | Application dates | Event period at Assembly Hall | Event period at Town Hall |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 - round two | Application window now closed | June to mid-September 2024 | June to December 2024 |
| 2025 - round one | July to August 2024 (exact dates to be confirmed) | January to mid-March 2025 | January to May 2025 |
| 2025 - round two | January to February 2025 (exact dates to be confirmed) | June to mid-December 2025 | June to December 2025 |
Eligibility and guidance
Organisations must demonstrate a commitment to provide events and activities that support the council’s strategic priorities by focussing on at least one of the following:
- community cohesion
- children and young people
- diversity (read the Aspen Institute's definition on their blog)
- creative ways of engaging local residents and, in particular, those who might otherwise miss out on cultural opportunities.
Applications should be able to demonstrate your event achieves the following:
- having a borough-wide impact
- demonstrating a commitment to good practice (events that are viable, of high quality, well-managed and evaluated)
- promoting Islington Assembly Hall as a focus for high quality events or demonstrating good use of the civic space at the Town Hall, making best use of the high-quality facilities available in both venues.
You must also be able to demonstrate how your organisation will cover any associated costs (if any) alongside the free hire.
The scheme will not support:
- groups that are not based in Islington
- events or activities from commercial organisations
- events that charge entry fees
- organisations that don't have the funding in place to support their event at the time of application
- more than one hire per applicant, per year
- applications from organisations who have previously cancelled a slot after being accepted
- applications from departments of Islington Council.
About the venues
Option 1 - Islington Assembly Hall
The Assembly Hall is suitable for
- fairs, conferences and networking events with an audience of over 100 people
- musical performances with a small number of performers
- other simple performances.
Islington Assembly Hall is not suitable for a full theatrical performance (with multiple acts, props, sets, complex lighting or audio-visual effects) on a limited budget and other venues might provide a better, cost-effective alternative.
Email AssemblyHall@islington.gov.uk if you would like to check if this is the right venue for you.
We will offer:
- two free free hires of the Assembly Hall
- for a maximum of five-hours
- on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays
- between June to mid-September 2024.
What is included in your hire
The five-hour free hire of the Assembly Hall will include:
- access to Islington Assembly Hall for you and your suppliers for your event
- set-up to meet your needs and furniture, as agreed before the event
- an events coordinator leading up to the event
- at least one duty manager during your event
- one member of the Assembly Hall security team
- a small public address (PA) system that you can use without support from an engineer
- a sound engineer (if needed) for five hours only
- jars of drinking water and three hot water urns
- parking for up to four cars, two vans OR one tour bus from load-in and up to load-out
- free Wi-Fi for production team only
- projector.
Security at Islington Assembly Hall
All events at the Assembly Hall need a risk assessment. We will book security staff based on the risk assessment, but any extra staff we need (one per 100 attendees) you will have to pay for.
Extra security staff start from £180 per member for up to five hours, then £36 per hour after that.
Security requirements are at the discretion of Islington Assembly Hall to ensure the safety of all attendees at the venue.
Items and services you must pay for
We will bill all other items and services to you. Extra costs for using the Assembly Hall may include, but are not limited to:
- hire of the hall for more than five hours in a row, from £360 per hour
- use of the balcony - £420 for a five-hour hire
- white tablecloths - £12 per tablecloth
- refreshments - costs available on request. You can bring catering in depending on approval from Islington Assembly Hall.
Other free facilities
- Accessible facilities: the hall has a step-free entrance and step-free bathroom facilities. The hall also has a hearing loop.
- Dressing rooms: there are three large dressing rooms available on request. Let us know your dressing room requirements when booking.
Option 2 - Islington Town Hall rooms
The Town Hall rooms are suitable for events with an audience between 25 and 80 people depending on layout of the room, and whether attendees are seated or standing up.
You can book the Town Hall for:
- workshops
- collaborative working sessions
- networking
- small get-togethers for residents and community groups.
We will offer:
- two free hires of Town Hall rooms
- for a maximum of five hours (all in one block of time)
- on working days from Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm
- between 3 June and 21 December 2024 (round 2).
We will make offers depending on availability.
What is included in your hire
The five-hour Town Hall free hire will include:
- access to Islington Town Hall spaces for you and your guests
- setting up the room the way you want
- at least one duty facility officer during your event
- our furniture, tables and chairs
- jars of drinking water
- large plasma LED monitor
- free Wi-Fi.
Other costs may include, but are not limited, to:
- hire of extra stationery such as flipcharts, flipchart paper, and pens
- hire of extra technical equipment like projectors
- any other services that are outside normal working hours
- refreshments - costs available on request.
Cancelling or postponing your event
We can cancel or postpone your event at any time due to exceptional circumstances without incurring liabilities for any losses or damages to the hirer as a result of cancellation.
If we cancel your booking for reasons other than an extraordinary event outside of either party’s control within two weeks of the date of the event, we will at our sole discretion try to help the hirer find alternative accommodation for the event.
Related information
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Rates reduction and relief
Find out what rates relief or discounts your business could be entitled to claim and how you can apply for them
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Meanwhile Space resources
A website with useful advice and resources for artists and arts groups looking for temporary vacant space
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Meanwhile space
Advice and information for artists and arts organisations looking for temporary vacant space in Islington
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Islington assembly hall
The venue’s website has details of upcoming events, how to hire the hall and the free hire scheme.