The Phoenix Arts Club, a beloved cornerstone of London’s independent theatre scene for more than three decades, has unveiled a Crowdfunder campaign in a bid to raise £125,000 to sustain its operations throughout 2025. Now operating as a Community Interest Company (CIC), this iconic venue continues to uphold its commitment to creativity, community engagement, and ensuring fair pay for artists.
Attracting over 100,000 visitors each year, The Phoenix Arts Club staged nearly 1,000 performances in the last twelve months and has distributed over £3 million to creative professionals over the past five years. While the venue has made significant strides, including recovering from the pandemic and upgrading its audio-visual facilities with funding from Arts Council England, it now faces financial difficulties stemming from rising operational costs and a lack of secured long-term funding.
Why Back The Phoenix Arts Club?
- Preserving an essential creative space: The venue is a vital hub for theatre-makers, cabaret performers, and the wider artistic community.
- Ensuring fair wages for artists: The club has paid over £3 million to creative practitioners in the past five years and continues to prioritise fair pay as a London Living Wage Employer.
- Expanding community initiatives: The venue plans to support emerging talent and theatre professionals by developing 10 new theatrical works in 2025. These efforts will include providing paid research and development time, along with directorial, marketing, and producing assistance, culminating in live showcases.
- Investing in the space itself: Planned improvements include enhancing staging, acquiring a baby grand piano, and purchasing theatre-specific headset microphones.
The year 2024 marked a significant chapter for The Phoenix Arts Club. It hosted critically acclaimed productions such as Spring Awakening, RENT, and Title of Show, the latter transferring to the Southwark Playhouse. The venue also welcomed international stars like Tituss Burgess, Scissor Sisters, and Laura Mvula, alongside rising performers like Henry Calvert and Emily Kitsch. The cabaret stage featured talents such as Sarah-Louise Young, Marcel Lucont, and Joe Black, while comedians including Kevin Bridges, Stephen Merchant, and Jack Dee used the venue to test new material.
By contributing to this Crowdfunder, supporters can play a crucial role in ensuring the future of this cherished venue and its creative community. All funds raised will be reinvested into the club’s charitable initiatives, safeguarding its mission to remain a home for creativity in the heart of London’s West End.
