Islington Mill Arts Club (IMAC) Revised Operational Schedule 14/08/2014 This document seeks to present for discussion a phased strategic approach to alleviate the potential for future noise nuisance in the immediate and long-term. We hope to work together to address residents’ current concerns. This revised operational schedule is a step towards finding sympathetic working processes and establishing a set of clear and measurable guidelines. It's hoped that we and future generations working at Islington Mill and living in Islington Estates can use the results as a reference point, ensuring a long-term working relationship for the betterment of south Chapel Street as a whole.
Current areas of concern • • •
Patron noise from courtyard area Noise from taxis Amplified Sound leakage from the venue
12 point summary of actions 1. All new bookings and programming have been suspended 2. Temporary measures implemented for Sat 2 August event. 3. Cancellation of events that were to take place Fri 8 August and Sat 9 August 4. Revised procedures: Reducing and controlling courtyard sound 5. Revised procedures: Patron cooperation – clear signage & external communication 6. Revised procedures: Reducing exterior bottle noise & litter 7. Revised procedures: Reducing patron noise – amendments to end of night procedure 8. Revised procedures: Reducing taxi noise 9. Architectural modifications to the courtyard & building 10. Proposals for mediation: Establishing fortnightly meetings 11. Proposals for mediation: Creating a community forum & liaison 12. Proposals for mediation: Measuring impact
Clarifications about IMAC's license and programme IMAC currently has a 24hr license which covers both the venue and courtyard. Following feedback about IMAC's summer 2013 programme, during which there was a 3-week period of concentrated activity, the issue of frequency first emerged. We took this on board and consequently made changes to how often events take place– specifically to alleviate this concern. We understand this issue has recently re-ignited (due to a complainant stating last week, via social media, that we continue and consistently hold a minimum of 3 events per week, at times increasing to 4 and 5 – in disregard for local residents, that we 'don't give a s**t'). We feel it's important to address this– so that it is understood we not only listened last summer but have acted accordingly. The frequency of our events (running past 11pm) from 1 Jan – 9 Aug 2014 is as follows: Weeks with 5 events: 0 Weeks with 4 events: 0 Weeks with 3 events: 1 (bank holiday) Weeks with 2 events: 8 Weeks with 1 event: 15 Weeks with 0 events: 8 TOTAL: 32 weeks
12 POINT ACTIONS (in further detail) Immediate Measures Taken As a result of the issues raised in our first meeting with Malcolm Coppock (25 July 2014), IMAC implemented the following: 1. All new bookings and programming have been suspended until a strategy that guarantees no risk to IMAC’s existing license has been agreed. 2. Temporary measures in place for Sat 2 August event. These measures have proven successful in that no complaints were made, with feedback specifically sought from previous complainants. 3. Cancellation of events that were to take place Fri 8 August and Sat 9 August. Events like these are a vital part of Islington Mill’s artistic programme and fundamental to its survival as an independent arts organisation. They embrace its guiding principles of openness, inclusion, empowerment, originality and– importantly– creative freedom for all. To cancel the 8 & 9 August events – both rare and unique opportunities to bring internationally renowned artists to Salford, and to sold-out audiences – represents a great loss in more ways than we can explain here. IMAC is not a bar. It is a multi-use arts centre formed in 2008 from 3 years of research funded by the Salford Urban Regeneration Company as a vehicle for providing public access to the arts in Salford. The tough decision to temporarily stop this provision while we address the present issues we hope underlines our commitment to the area and our willingness to find ways of living and being in a shared environment through mutual sensitivity and respect.
Short-term – operational adjustments (for existing bookings) These amended measures will be in place until an appropriate long-term solution is found.
4. Reducing and controlling courtyard sound After 11pm crowd barriers will reduce the size of the courtyard, keeping patrons within an area that is walled on 3 sides. After 11pm no more than 20 people will be allowed at one time. This will be put into effect utilising a physical pass system that Serenity Security have found very effective at the venue ‘Soup Kitchen’. It involves giving the customer a playing card as they exit to the smoking area, enabling security to engage in explanatory conversation, raising awareness and consideration while reducing aggravation. It also encourages people to spend less time in the smoking area as they are more aware others are waiting.
5. Patron cooperation – clear signage & external communication Indoor posters and outdoor banners have been commissioned, communicating clearly the severity of our situation – asking patrons to be respectful and keep voices down. These will be installed in a number of prominent places in and outside the building. Serenity will point out these posters to clientele as they enter, so that everyone is aware of the situation. We will pre-warn our audience through our social media and newsletters to make them aware these measures are in place and why they are important. Where external promoters have created facebook events, we will post within the stream that these limitations are in place and must be enforced.
6. Reducing exterior bottle noise & litter Patrons will not be allowed to exit with drinks vessels (i.e. bottles, cans, plastic cups). This will be strictly enforced by Serenity at the front door/main exit.
7. Reducing patron noise – amendments to end of night procedure The bar will stop serving half an hour before the end of the night. This will make customers aware the night is nearly over and encourage a steady trickle of people leaving instead of a mass exodus. If leaving by taxi, Serenity will keep people in the building until their taxi has arrived.
8. Reducing taxi noise Outdoor signs are being commissioned to remind taxi drivers not to use horns. These will be placed at both ends of James Street during evening events. Where possible Serenity will call taxis for customers, in order to brief taxi dispatch about the noise issue. Arrangements have been made between Islington Mill and Manchester Cars. A direct line / free phone has now been installed, with Manchester Cars' drivers and dispatch fully briefed about noise.
Architectural modifications to the courtyard & building 9. As of 1st of July 2014 IMAC has been awarded £1.4m towards a long-term refurbishment of the building. As part of this, £100,000 has been agreed as development funding for consultancy. This is in aid of building refurbishment (architectural proposals, plans and surveys) as well as of IMAC's organisational development (its programme, business plan, operational and management structures). Consultancy work will begin in September 2014 and continue over the next 9-12 months. We are using this unique opportunity to ensure that any current noise issues, or noise likely to cause a nuisance are ‘designed out’ and considered fully with the support of experts in this field. A full acoustic survey with a specialist independent company is being commissioned to ascertain and provide a concrete methodology for ensuring noise nuisance in the future can be controlled and abated. The results from this survey will be incorporated as an essential feature of our capital development, with special attention paid to reducing sound leakage and reverberation from use of the courtyard. Work in progress and current proposals are detailed below. Reducing sound leakage from the courtyard • Medium-term: to build the external roof space as agreed within our existing planning applications and to look at acoustic treatments on the underside. • Long-term: working with sound science experts from our partners at University of Salford to develop innovative treatments to the surfaces of the courtyard areas to reduce sound leakage and reverberation. Reducing noise from taxis • Medium-term: to explore the use of Heras fencing panels with acoustic covering to direct people and sound appropriately on James Street • Long-term: to explore creating alternative exit points including via New Islington Mill or via the main gate. Reducing sound leakage from the venue • Currently underway: bricking up windows in the venue space; building a new lobby for both fire exits; glass double doors will be covered with acoustic padding and draft exclusion tape used to reduce rattling. • Short-term: Rockwool and Heras fencing panels have been ordered to produce acoustic panels which will be experimented with to deaden sound in the venue. These panels will specifically be used to try to deflect sound from the main entrance, to reduce any potential leakage from people exiting the building during events. This will be tried within the corridor and on the street itself. • Medium-term: further lobbies will be introduced to the glass side door. • Long-term: working with U.Salford to develop treatments to the surfaces of the venue and adjoining areas. As an additional measure, trained and briefed sound engineers will be present at all events that go beyond 11pm. In the medium-term, should bass level noise still be affecting specific buildings or areas of buildings, hertz levels can be identified and removed from the mix by trialling and testing by sound engineer Andy Blundell and Neuron Pro Audio.
Proposals for mediation 10. Fortnightly meetings IMAC offers to establish fortnightly meetings between all local 'stakeholders' for an initial trial period of 3 months – to begin as soon as mutually agreed. The purpose of these meetings is to provide an open space for everyone to communicate freely and directly, with the aim• For all parties to be actively engaged in working towards practical solutions and to • Provide a sounding board for the immediate anger and frustration stemming from lack of communication and definitive, describable and measurable action • Establish a formal procedure for complaints and track steps taken to resolve them • Objectively determine the precise source/nature of the problems • Explore options which can best achieve all stakeholders aims • Work with the complainants to identify suitable alternatives and to test them - we do not want to close one ‘hole’ and open another, leaving ourselves and the complainant dissatisfied • Move forward in a managed way, ensuring that proposals are sustainable and measurable.
11. Creating a community forum & liaison IMAC will contribute £1500 towards a joint fund for the employment of a community liaison. We see this person as someone who can mediate between different parties without bias – to help resolve issues such as the current noise complaints. We would encourage representatives of the main areas of the Islington Estate to be involved – e.g. including St. Phillips School, Rev. Andy Salmon, TIETARA, SALIX homes, Islington Mill. It could extend to key businesses, i.e. Shalimar’s shop, the former post office, and new businesses (CostCutter and The Ainscow) and apartment blocks (Vimto Gardens). It's hoped this forum includes not only stakeholders, but also other parties whose activities have an impact on quality of life in the southern Chapel St Quarter e.g. railway construction so that issues can be holistically addressed. We seek to have this person in position by close of 2014.
12. Measuring impact It is essential that IMAC's efforts are assessed through measurable means. We will further keep record of all works and measures undertaken. Short-term: to agree a plan with a clear timeline and an agreed course of action that is both measurable and achievable. This will require professional help and an agreed period of testing where we can have confidence that our license will not be at risk as a result. We will take decibel readings throughout the investigation period – inside the venue, in the courtyard, on James Street and at the boundary of Cannon Hussey Court. Acoustic levels were taken prior to works commencing on the venue space (e.g. bricking windows). Comparable levels will be taken afterwards to understand the impact. Medium-term: IMAC is investing to have full acoustic surveys done of the venue, courtyard and adjoining areas. This is so a 'permitted level' can be ascertained through objectively measured acoustic criteria.
About Islington Mill Arts Club •
Islington Mill is a not-for-profit company Ltd by Guarantee – Company Number 06668777. It is run by a Board of Directors on a Voluntary basis who ordinarily meet monthly. IMAC was formed in 2008 from 3 years of research funded by the Salford Urban Regeneration Company as a vehicle for providing public access to the arts in Salford.
Our vision is that “Everyone should be able to live and work as freely and creatively as possible.” Built on principles of inclusion, originality and empowerment, IMAC has dedicated itself to nurturing an environment where excellence can flourish and potential is realised, by allowing the time and space for people to experiment, take risks and grow. It is internationally recognised as a centre of creative freedom, where anyone can produce work - often challenging accepted notions of what art and culture can do and who can be involved. •
IMAC is not a bar. It is a multi-use arts centre and should be considered next to The Lowry, Salford, Cornerhouse, Manchester or the Black-E in Liverpool, the latter of which both have 24hr licenses.
IMAC is working towards its vision, and a 24hr license is crucial to this purpose: • •
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Creative expression and freedom needs to be spontaneous, responsive and adaptable. The licence accommodates the range of activities we do including 24-hour ‘filmathons’, and 24hr visual art exhibitions/performances. IMAC activities are each individual and unique. IMAC at this point does not hold any regular or repeated event, with the exception of those on an annual basis such as NYE, SFTOC, FatOut Fest. Due to the location and the stated ambition of Salford City Council to stimulate a Creative Quarter in the Chapel St area, Islington Mill is one of the very few actual drivers of this activity. Its ability to bring an audience to Salford is only feasible by hosting these unique and specialised events. The flexibility of the licence is the only financially viable way to sustain the project in this location. The courtyard and license are a unique selling point that make IMAC distinct in an increasingly competitive market of Manchester City Centre.
Upcoming event schedule (events running past 11pm) The amended sound control measures described earlier will be enforced: Sat 16 Aug– wedding Sat 23 Aug– wedding Sun 24 Aug– 12 hour creativity exchange / film night (all welcome) Sat 30 Aug– wedding Sat 6 Sep– wedding Fri 12 Sep– 12 hour film night (all welcome) Sat 20 Sep – Bohemian Grove (all welcome) Sat 27 Sep – wedding Sat 4 Oct – Oxjam (all welcome) Sat 1 Nov – Zombie Pride (all welcome) IMAC activities ending before 11pm – ALL WARMLY WELCOME Every Tues 7-9pm Life Drawing (£6 or £8 tutored) Wed 3 Sept potluck 7.30 (every first Wed of the month) – free, bring a dish to share Sat 20 Sep Mill summer fete Sat 20 Sep 1-4pm one69a T-shirt screenprinting workshop (£17.50 for 1 person / £30 for 2) Sun 19 Oct – Freedom from Torture festival. Details tba.