Islington Mill is a former cotton spinning mill in Salford, very close to Manchester's city centre. Unlike much of Manchester's industrial heritage which has been converted into loft apartments, Islington Mill is now home to over 50 artists studios, two art galleries a recording studio and club space. It's one of the few creative spaces in Salford, and has evolved over ten years to become the cultural haven that it is now.
It all started in 1994 when Bill Campbell, returned home to Salford after studying fashion at Central St Martin's. He found an abandoned mill opposite his council flat and subsequently saved, begged and borrowed to buy the place in 2001.
Artists came in, created new work and did site specific shows, the likes of Susie MacMurray's Stratum (www.susiemacmurray.co.uk) were the result. Meanwhile, Bill converted The Engine House at Islington Mill into a home, (see Elle Decoration Sept 03) before tackling the Mill itself.
By 2006 he'd created 50 spaces of varying sizes for artists and designers to set themselves up permanently. Residents in the building now work with everything from ceramics to welding and the web, the summer of 2007 saw the launch off Islington Mills' own Art Academy, an alternative education project for students.
Other projects onsite include the Bureau Gallery (www.bureaugallery.com),
1234 Recording studio and Sounds from the Other City (www.myspace.com/soundsfromtheothercity) as well as an ever growing programme of events in the Islington Mill club space.
The club space started out in 2005, when numerous friends around the Mill threw the first of many weird and wonderful events, including the rebirth of Club Brenda (www.myspace.com/clubbrenda). Gradually, the Mill started to entertain more and more impromptu gigs and parties, until it became a fixture on the underground club kids calendar, and a band favourite: Fire Engines, The Whip, Wooden Shjips, Clark, The Thermals, Mayming, Ariel Pink, No Age, Pocahaunted, Sun Araw, Moon Duo, Bonjay, EMA, Anni Rossi, Ex-Models, Lightning Bolt, Sunn O))), Fucked Up, Koen Holtkamp, Marnie Stern, The Ting Tings, Death Grips, Part Chimp, The Earlies, Alexander Robotnick, Atlas Sound, Jackie O Motherfucker, A Hawk and a Hacksaw, Oval, The A Band, Future Islands, Mount Kimbie, Nozinja & Thetsha Boys, Oneohtrix Point Never, Volcano the Bear, BLK JKS, The Phanton Band, Elbow, Magik Markers, Mothlite, Action Beat, Six Organs of Admittance, Screaming Females, Tim Hecker, Group Doueh, Hot Chip, Oneida, Earth, Olafur Arnalds, Triclops, Baroness, The Thing, ZU, MEN, Delphic, Dennis Jones, Will Guthrie, Pausal, Drums of Death, Elvis, David Thomas Broughton, Diane Cluck, White Magic, Acid Mothers Temple, Nissenenmondai, Austra, Boris, MEN, Wu Lyf, The Ex, Rhys Chatham, Japanther, Dieter Moebius, John Maus, and Salem have been amongst the guests to have played on the same dirty white stage.
2010 saw a re-generation of the building as we improved our facilities which now include a more accesible and user friendly gallery which now holds a focus on production as well as exhibitiing, this will be put to most use with our Autumn Residency Programme (see the news page for furthur info). We ahve also improved toilet facilities, the bar facilites and the club space to house even bigger and better gigs than ever before. Plus 2011 has seen the introduction of our B&B.
The B&B is housed in a converted workshop with an open plan contemporary feel. With two double bedrooms and a dormitory room sleeping six the B&B can house a maximum of ten at any one time. Each room has ensuite facilities and there is a communal kitchen and dinning area for guests to share. The B&B predominantly houses bands and artists visiting the city, recent guests have included Billy Childish, David Medalla, and Roger Cardinal and musical stars Earth, Salem and Group Doueh. Housed in the midst of Islington Mill artist's studios, the B&B provides a lively and alternative introduction to the city. If you are interested in booking a room please contact Morry: Maurice.Carlin@islingtonmill.com
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