The site was originally part of a Victorian sweet factory, manufacturing liquorice and boiling sugar. In the late 20th century, it contained a leather goods and belt manufacturer. Grow was a sausage factory and cold store.

Grow Studios was born out of a DIY self-organising ethos by two locals. It's purpose: create useful and sustainable spaces for its creative practitioners, artists and SME tenants and eventually, if possible, a cultural grassroots venue to make a self-sustaining ecosystem.

Grow opens up for one-off events, including a ‘Latin American & African Encounter’ with long-term partner conga legend Williams Cumberbatch and Grow's Village Fete Fundraiser. We pay London Living Wage from the start.

Now open each weekend, Grow has local DJs and more events including 'We Shall Overcome' standing against austerity and 'An Apple Affair' celebrating harvest season and local partners. Grow is now powered by Ecotricity.

As we gain momentum we build a Hydroponics Installation, host informal talks on politics, art and permaculture. Start regular events: local artist showcase; open mic and jazz jam and annual events such as the Hackney WickED Arts Festival & DIY Open Studios.

Grow builds on reputation of offering creative partners a collaborative model and works with a wide range of emerging and established artists. We work with local and ethical suppliers, such as Hackney Herbal, to divert money away from multinational tax avoiders.

Grow's eco-pod artist-in-residence hosts local artists. We open new canalside greenhouse made from recycled bus shelters. At this point, Grow hosts 5-6 events per week from live music, DJs, markets, even a circus performance on a boat!

We've always valued partners. Grow Change celebrates local skill/knowledge, plus 6 fundraisers in 6 weeks. We host the London Short Film Festival on the 'Air Draft'. We explore creative community displacement with 'V&A Lates' and pop up at the National Trust's Sutton House to debate social change and protest.

Pandemic hits. Grow closes 16 March. We reopen with help from the Cultural Recovery Fund and support from the Music Venue Trust. We go digital with 'Grow at Home' and when allowed, with outdoor live events, gaining AA Confident Secure status.

Motherland choose us as their notable music venue in Mixmag. We work with volunteers to build a floating eco-system on the canalside; become a pick-up point for the Growing Communities Veg Box scheme and host 'Future Fairs' with stalls and music in the yard.

We return to 5+ cultural events per week with artists from across the globe to down the road. We host a series of community events involving workshops and communal eating as part of Hello Again Hackney and imagine new futures for the London Architecture Festival.

We opened up Grow’s Mezz Gallery for art shows. We collaborated on events with the Chisenhale Gallery and Guildhall School. Saachi launched our DeepDig Series and we open our studios as part in London’s Open House Festival for the 2nd year in a row.

It’s Grow’s 10 anniversary year... We’re celebrating with events over 12 months and iconic birthday weekender in July! A time to highlight achievements and be honest about our vulnerability by launching a vital crowdfunder to help save the venue!