Creative Lenses Catalyst Programme Case Study: Village Underground

This case study is one of eight written as part of Creative Lenses (2015-2019), funded by Creative Europe.Village Underground is an independent performing arts venue based in Shoreditch, east London, UK, programming live music and club nights, as well as offering corporate hires and co-working spaces for creative practitioners. As it prepared to open a second, larger venue in London in 2018, VU faced challenges about how to sustain its experimental approach and working culture while making its everyday operations routine. This case study explores how a focus on internal management raised issues about hierarchy, leadership and identity.