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Bethnal Green Working Men’s Club (BGWMC) is in danger. Last year, the Friends of BGWMC gathered more than 13,000 signatures in a petition to save the beloved queer venue and successfully held a rally to save it from eviction back in July. But that wasn’t the end.
As we speak, the club (which has hosted the likes of Bjork, Jarvis Cocker and Liam Gallagher) is still at risk of being sold to developers. That’s unless Tower Hamlets Council can be persuaded to buy it or the Friends of BGWMC are successful in a community purchase of the building.
Now, a ‘fighting fund’ has been launched with an aim to raise £18,000. We’re happy to report that it’s already reached its base target of £12,000, which will pay for a full chartered survey and valuation of the building and cover the cost of planning applications.
The £18,000 target will allow the club to develop a solid business plan and cover all consultancy and accountancy costs. It has until April 8 to raise the funds it needs. That’s in just six weeks.
Nick Keegan, variety organiser at the arts and entertainment trade union Equity, said: ‘We believe it is essential to save this unique cultural facility and give it a chance to continue serving the local community of Tower Hamlets, the LGBTQ+ community, and the wider cultural tapestry of London for future generations.
‘We are determined to build that case, and make sure that the cultural and societal value of BGWMC is clear for all to see.
‘It has been a catalyst for the development of new artists and cultural workers in the city, a safe space for the LGBTQ+ community, and it is a building with more than 100 years of history as a community owned space. It is vital that we protect BGWMC for future generations and allow its legacy to live on.’
You can support the Bethnal Green Working Men’s Club campaign here. Those who donate will have the opportunity to receive BGWMC merchandise, from bespoke beer mats to an A3 poster of the club.
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