Year in Review 2021

The words on the side of our theatre this year read "Here for whatever 2021 throws at us". This rings true for how we have adapted to what has been another very different year at Here East.

With the announcement of another lockdown in January 2021, our team pivoted to keep the campus safe and secure while remaining open for business. Despite the uncertainity of the beginning of the year, we built a new seating area outside Fabric Factory reception with new security lanes inside, and installed awnings on Canalside to help our retailers stay open rain or shine.

We've also completed some incredible new fitouts this year at Here East, with Sports Interactive relocating to their larger space in the Press Centre in May, Plykea taking up their new workshop space in August, and Staffordshire University London expanding with their fitout completed in September.

In February we launched the Here East Scholarship Programme which provides full undergraduate tuition and supporting loan supplement to local students from east London to study at world-class universities Staffordshire University London and LMA based at Here East. The programme is open to prospective students currently residing in Hackney, Newham, Tower Hamlets and Waltham Forest, aiming to deliver on-the-ground impact to the east London community.

We were thrilled to welcome our first three Scholarship winners to campus in September as they began their studies at Staffordshire University London and LMA. Maryam Hussian, one of our Scholarship winners studying Film and TV Production at LMA, is pictured below.

We were lucky to host some incredible events at Here East over the Summer months. In June, July and August we had a taste of normality with the Big Screen in the Yard and live music every Thursday down on Canalside. We welcomed esports brands, pro teams and athletes, along with the fan community, for an epic three-day esports festival, StackFest, in September.

In June we hosted interactive outdoor exhibition displays and celebrates the designs of young east Londoners for the inaugural People’s Pavilion design competition powered by Beyond the Box Consultants.

The award-winning People’s Pavilion was a multi-disciplinary, collaborative project that invited young East Londoners to work in partnership with professionals from the built environment and creative arts industries to design, build and curate the activity within their own pavilion at Here East. Envision East Festival followed in August which was East London’s first space to be designed and curated by young East Londoners.

We proudly launched our 2021 Impact Report in June showcasing economic and social impact within the local community in the face of the challenges posed by the global health pandemic.

In October we worked with the Good Growth Hub to create Industry Insights the #Gaming edition in collaboration with Into Games and Game Anglia. This was a specially curated 5-week programme for young people who want to kickstart a career in the games industry. All participaints were given the opportunity to secure a work placement in the gaming industry via Into Games KickStart scheme, a 6-month role paid at a minimum of London Living Wage.

We look foward to what 2022 has in store. We have some exciting updates on their way so make sure to stay tuned for what's to come in the New Year...