Empty Unit Activation
We deliver cultural activations into otherwise empty units, bringing art, crafts and events and enlivening the ground floor in the Eastern City
Broadworks by Hive Curates at 55 Old Broad Street
Eastern City BID has led several transformative partnerships to bring vacant spaces back into use, turning empty units into creative and community focused hubs while they remain on the market. At 55 Old Broad Street, working with Landsec and Hive Curates, we transformed more than 30,000 sq ft of unused space into affordable studios and a cultural activities hub, with all studios let before opening and a regular programme of public workshops and events. The first project of its kind in the City, it now acts as a model for similar schemes and supports strategic aims in The City Plan 2040, Destination City and the emerging Cultural Planning Framework. A socioeconomic impact report on our Broadworks project showed strong results, with 11,000 visitors, 355 creative businesses supported, 182 jobs created, 92 events hosted and 96 percent workspace occupancy in its first 18 months. Over the summer, we also worked with Hive Curates to deliver an eight week programme of free public events, from fitness and dance sessions to art workshops, exhibitions and live music, attracting more than 350 people to the launch and over 1,000 participants overall.
SET Ceramics at 35 Crutched Friars
n partnership with landlords Whitbread, the Eastern City BID transformed a former key‑cutting and shoe‑repair shop at 35 Crutched Friars into Set Ceramics, a fully functioning ceramics gallery and studio that has quickly become a creative anchor for the neighbourhood. The space now offers public classes, workshops and events, providing accessible opportunities for people to learn new skills and engage with craft in the heart of the City. As well as supporting local makers, Set Ceramics brings a visible, street‑level cultural presence to an area traditionally associated with corporate activity, helping shift perceptions of what happens in the City and contributing to its evolution into a more vibrant, welcoming and culturally diverse destination. The project demonstrates how reimagining small vacant units can have a significant impact, activating underused spaces and enriching the everyday experience for workers, residents and visitors alike.
Theatre Deli at 107 Leadenhall
At 107 Leadenhall, the Eastern City BID partnered with Theatre Deli to transform a former convenience store into a flexible new performance and creative space. Theatre Deli—an artist‑support charity known for reviving empty buildings—now has a prominent shopfront venue in the Eastern City, offering rehearsals, workshops, performances and community events. The space provides an accessible environment where emerging artists can experiment, develop their craft and build confidence, while giving audiences the chance to experience diverse grassroots culture in the heart of the Square Mile. By activating a once‑vacant unit, the project strengthens the City’s cultural offer, supports creative talent and helps broaden who feels welcome and represented in the area.
Fountain House at 130 Fenchurch Street
Another empty building activation that we initiated was a project of temporary façade improvements. This involved over 100 linear metres of vinyl across 85 windows, encompassing the entirety of Fountain House from Callum Street along Fenchurch Street and up to Fen Court. The project provided the public with clear wayfinding and information about the Eastern City BID, education about local heritage, content from Sculpture In The City and New London Architecture, and a new home for “Old Tom’s Tale” – a commissioned artwork by Eastern City BID to celebrate the nearby Leadenhall Market.