Youth projects hanging in the balance after London School of Mosaic collapse
Council looking for new operator of artistic hub in estate car park
Friday, 15th August — By Frankie Lister-Fell
The HvH Arts charity is one of the groups affected
THE future of a community of artistic studios and youth project base is hanging in the balance after its leaseholder entered “voluntary liquidation”.
The London School of Mosaic, an independent art school that runs mosaic-making courses and diplomas for adults and children, announced last week it was “on the verge of insolvency”.
The centre is also in charge of running an artistic hub beneath the Ludham council block in Lismore Circus – which opened in a disused car park in 2023.
It has been home to a variety of organisations and charities including an art space for disadvantaged children, a boxing club for young people, a radio station and a design charity.
The charity HvH Arts runs after-school arts classes for young people in the space.
Its CEO Debbi Clark said: “Unless urgent support is found to secure the space, HvH Arts could lose the very heart of our work.
“This is not just a space.
“It’s where 70 children and young people come every single day during school holidays, every weekend of the year, and three times a week during term time for our free creative workshops, hot meals, mentoring, and mental health support.
“Without a base, our ability to reach our 1,024 unique young people in Camden – many from socio-economically disadvantaged and marginalised backgrounds – will be critically affected.
“We are a growing, community-led charity that believes in creating equal opportunities through the arts.
“But without a physical space, our lifeline to the young people who need us most is under threat.”
Albert McEyeson, CEO and founder of Action Youth Boxing Initiative, also rents the space after years of using temporary buildings, and has its own boxing ring and gym for kids to use.
The organisation offers free non-contact boxing sessions alongside counselling and training opportunities for kids referred to them from Pupil Referral Unit and social services.
A lot of their work helps young people entrenched in gangs.
Mr McEyeson said: “It’s uncertain who will take over the space and the uncertainty is quite disturbing. There’s nothing in writing.
“We were given six weeks’ notice that we need to leave the space by September 1 but it’s been quite vague.
“What happens to the beneficiaries we serve? I have over 1,000 service- users in the Camden area and they’re going to be heavily affected by this.
“We’re grateful to the Mosaic for all the great work they’ve done getting the undercroft into a good condition, else we would have been left without a home. Camden seems to be working diligently to try to find a resolution and find someone to take it over.”
Albert McEyeson
Gospel Oak Cllr Marcus Boyland, a former trustee of the school, said: “It’s a real shame. They’ve decided to step away from running the studios there.
“I think that the demand for mosaic painting has been uncertain for a while similarly for courses and to learn as well. It’s been difficult.
“They thought that having a base in those studios wasn’t right for them so that’s why they decided to move.
“We’re working with council officers to make sure that we get an operator who continues being committed to the artists who are currently in there.
“I think it’s looking quite promising, but we’ll see.”
Mr Boyland described their former director David Tootill as a “real titan of a man” who “really pushed” for the idea of transforming the disused space into a community artist hub which was their “crowning achievement”.
The school, in a statement on its website, said: “It is with great sadness that we announce The London School of Mosaic is closing because it is on the verge of insolvency.
“After eight years working to promote mosaic art within the UK, we want to express our deepest gratitude to all those who have studied or worked with us.”
The London School of Mosaic’s final day will be August 29.
