ABOUT US
Sister Midnight is a not-for-profit co-operative organisation based in south east London. Since 2021, we've been campaigning to create Lewisham's first community owned music venue, bringing a much needed cultural community hub to our local area.
SISTER
MIDNIGHT
Lottie, Lenny, and Sophie - the Directors of Sister Midnight
OUR MANIFESTO
Live music is the beating heart of South East London, but for too long we've seen venue after venue close their doors for good, so it's time to try something new. Sister Midnight is South East London's answer to a growing movement of cultural & community businesses who are pioneering new ideas and ways of working that combat the tired capitalist models that have been failing our cultural institutions for decades. Our vision is of a music venue that is owned and democratically controlled by the community; a space that champions local creative talent, and prioritises people above profit. Sister Midnight is a chance to re-imagine the role of a contemporary music venue, providing a transformational opportunity for our local area setting a precedent for how things can be done differently.
OUR
VALUES
Our values reflect the principles that we believe a community owned music venue should uphold. They form the core of our organisational ethics and will inform the choices we make throughout the lifetime of Sister Midnight.
Accessibility
We’ll make our venue to functional and autonomous for neurodiverse and disabled users integrating accessible design into the fabric of the space. We’ll implement measures to widen participation in live music, and we’ll always work to meet access requirements.
Affordability
As a not-for-profit organisation our focus will be on keeping prices low for the benefit of the community, not on inflating profit margins for private gain. We’ll always strive to keep prices affordable, so that no one is financially excluded from our space.
Ethics
We’ll centre ethical decision making and ensure that our platform is used to further social good. By putting our organisational ethics into practice, we’ll ensure that the work we do contributes to the wider change we want to see in the world.
Democratic Ownership
Grassroots music venues are community assets, and the best way to protect them is to put their ownership in the hands of the communities they exist within. Community owned businesses are statistically more likely to succeed because they give their members a genuine say in how they are run, making them better able to serve the needs of the community.
Sustainability
There is no music on a dead planet. We’ll build a strong sustainability plan and work to reduce our environmental impact, working with local breweries and suppliers to reduce food (and beer) miles, using renewable energy, and reducing waste and single-use plastic. Long term, we’ll work towards producing our own green energy on site, and becoming carbon neutral.
Fair Pay
Fair pay of staff and musicians will be central to our ethos. Staff will be paid London Living Wage, with no zero-hours contracts. We’ll be a Fair Play venue, meeting the criteria set by the Musician’s Union, ensuring all performers receive a fair cut of ticket sales.
Inclusivity
We are proudly LGBTQ+ inclusive, anti-racist, and intersectionally feminist, operating a zero tolerance policy towards racism, sexism, ableism, transphobia, fatphobia homophobia, islamophobia, and other forms of discrimination. We’ll engage in a continuous process to uphold these values and create a space that celebrates Lewisham’s diverse communities.