The Pride of the Canalside: An Interview With The Proud Archivist
By Something Curated
Coffee shops are no longer just coffee shops and art galleries have become more than just places to display new creative work. As we’ve seen in London and around the world, spaces are merging and morphing along with their eclectic customers, and design entrepreneurs are moving right along with them to produce creative hubs that are designed with their specific client’s vision in mind.The Proud Archivist, flanking the canalside in the New Era Estate/Hoxton area, is one of these many multi-use spaces and it’s been tapped as a place to watch since it opened. It’s a spot where both a graffiti artist and a UX developer can network, get inspired via pop-up art exhibits and have a coffee or bite to eat. How is this possible? We ask the founder, Hector Proud, why London a great place for multi-use venues, what the Proud Archivist does that stands out from the rest, and how he stays inspired in busy, bustling London.
Something Curated: We can’t count how many times we’ve heard our friend’s mention the Proud Archivist for networking. What makes this space so popular at the moment and who comes to TPA?
Hector Proud: We’re one of the most democratic spaces in Hackney. We are an art gallery, a theatre, an acclaimed kitchen and a Reference Library. We pride ourselves on a broad spectrum of events going from Wildlife drawing – this Christmas we’ve got 3 reindeers coming in to model! – to graffiti battles, from clothes swaps to baby fitness classes, outdoor film screenings to literary and theatrical performances and recitals. We host huge names, brand new talent and those in-between people who really need a leg up to get themselves noticed. We base our selection of these events around the local diaspora of interests which manifest themselves in our customers day to day. Hackney is one of London’s most diverse and creative boroughs, and we aim to offer something for everyone, we get to know our customers and use them as our primary basis of research for future events. We have a policy of hosting cultural producers for no hire fee. It’s great for all of us – exposure, talent and more people through our door to get to know! This is especially difficult as we receive no subsidy or local authority funding, and still manage to produce these events to the very highest standard.
SC: Who are the people behind the brand that really helped to make it great? What is the ethos of the brand and who is Proud Archivist for?
HP: TPA started out as a cultural space aimed primarily at residents of Haggerston, Dalston and south Hackney, although now our newsletter subscriptions spread our cultural programme from America to Japan, Australia and mainland Europe. We believe that good times come from good food, great coffee, and sublime cocktails, culture and friends! This is what TPA tries its hardest to provide for our customers. We want to be the equivalent of your sitting room – minus the TV listings, and instead a bursting cultural programme to choose from every day of the week.
SC: Why did you choose Regent’s Canal and Haggerston as a location for The Proud Archivist?
HP: The Regent’s Canal is the artery of North London. It sets us apart from the distractions of work life and bustle of the rush hour – when you walk through our doors you’re totally at ease. The water is the only backdrop – rather than buses and taxis – and the towpath itself provides an indispensable route for pedestrians and cyclists so we’re still at the heart of daily life. Our daily routine is set by the gentle rhythm of the canal – morning cyclists, afternoon schoolchildren, evening drinks are followed by night’s solitude and stillness on the water before the next day rolls around again. Haggerston is an ideal location to capture the very best of Hackney’s creative population – to and from work in the city, up and down the canal at the weekend with the family, and never too far to travel for most people to travel.
SC: What can we find on the menu? How does this tie in with Proud Archivist’s personality?
HP: Our menu is all about the season and therefore the freshest and most satisfying ingredients for the temperature and palate. The food is of exceptional standard since our new head chef began working here at the end of this summer, and as I mentioned earlier, how can good times flow from mediocre suppers?! We’re all about enjoying life. This comes naturally – both metaphorically and literally – where the kitchen is concerned.
SC: What special amenities does the Proud Archivist offer? What kind of one-off or recurring events do you host at The Proud Archivist? Any personal favourite events?
HP: We have a stunning double height restaurant and library space which we know is so because of the amount of happy couples who choose to get married there! Another great feature of the building is our beautiful King’s Terrace which boasts a large outdoor cinema complete with wireless headphones which is always a favourite in the summer with our customers and staff alike. We host some really great recurring events here. One is Conclave – London’s only weekly short film festival – which screens an undisclosed selection of shorts every Monday at 7.30pm in our new screening room. Other successful recurrences are our Life Drawing class, All The Young Nudes, which also runs on a Monday night at 8pm. Further recurring favourites of mine include our Monkey Toast shows; the renowned comedy course and performance regularly comes to TPA, and has a course lined up for the new year in which participants learn how to improvise and perform stand up.”
SC: How has the local community helped foster Proud Archivist’s success? Who are the people that are offering support and helping to create great projects big or small.
HP: We have a great relationship with all our immediate neighbours. The Bargehouse, a little further down the canal, regularly host our clients on our recommendations, and the King’s Head also enjoys a special relationship with our events team (and staff!) who regularly move on there after their evening with us. The Floating Showroom is another close pal – they’ve moored outside our doors to provide break out spaces for clients in the past and definitely in the future as well. Cyphers are our resident theatre company, and the Haggerston Food Assembly come every Tuesday to swap, buy and sell locally sourced fresh veggies and food.
SC: What were three pivotal points in your career that have set your path to creating The Proud Archivist? Tell us about some of the art exhibitions in the space.
HP: Three things! Well, it would definitely have to be: leaving my job in 1998 to produce the Millennium project for Save The Children. Then, setting up Idea Generation PR in 2000 – growing it to become the biggest cultural PR company in the UK. And lastly, launching the Idea Generation Gallery in 2008 on Redchurch Street – and moving towards cultural programming and production.
SC: Have you had any noteworthy people/celebrities who come to the Proud Archivist? How do you think the space helps add to the creative community in Hackney and has helped cultivate great work?
HP: As a rule, we only talk about people who come in to perform – as anyone coming in as a guest probably doesn’t want to be bothered. From a performance point of view, we’ve had scores of talented artists – these past few months alone we’ve had Richard Curtis, Abandoman, Harry Hill, La Roux, Eliza Doolittle, Richard Herring, Tony Law and Russell Brand on the stage..
SC: What are some of the best independent multi-use spaces in London in your opinion (other than The Proud Archivist)?
HP: There are loads. We love the Arcola Theatre, the Bussey Building is great for a dance, and the rooftop bar in the summer is great.
SC: What did you learn while creating The Proud Archivist? Tell us about your approach to creating a space that is both great for everyday socializing and for private events? Tell us how you approached the design process for Proud Archivist.
HP: The Proud Archivist was designed as a collaborative space. We took our inspiration from the great late coffee houses of London, the places that gave birth to the creative, social and finance industries as well as being the source of inspiration for London’s great artists from Dickens to the Pre Raphaelites. The rooms within the building are open and malleable, the tables are collaborative workspaces and our kitchen and bar are open books. We want you to feel part of the joint buzz and work environment as soon as you walk through the door, and thanks to the architects at Studio Tilt who designed the building, you do.
SC: Tell us about your typical workday (or as typical as a workday might get…)?
HP: I’m an early riser! I live locally and cycle or walk to work most days, unless I have a breakfast meeting in town. I’m normally in the office long before anyone else, when my team get in we’ll have a morning briefing, and then get to it. Which usually entails meetings with future event producers, email correspondence and think tank sessions with our new catering and hospitality advisors. We work in a small office, and manage to balance our work load with occasional fits of hysterics, the odd piece of cake, and a drink together most Friday nights. Normally I squeeze in a meal from our kitchen at my desk, but most of the time I’ll work through till 6 or 7, when me and my team head off to the events at the venue or home for supper.
SC: What habits or hobbies do you do to keep yourself inspired? Tell us about something you do for yourself or for friends that keeps you happy and gets you going.
HP: Football. Music. My beautiful baby. Art. Cycling. Drinking with my colleagues.
SC: Finish this sentence: “Always …”
HP: …give it a go. (Unless there’s a reasonable chance of a life-threatening injury.)
SC: Finish this sentence: “Never …”
HP: Never give up.
SC: What are your rules of engagement for meetings and travel?
HP: Meetings: Do them standing up and you’ll soon find your own. Travel: In London, cycle or walk (unless there’s a reasonable chance of a life-threatening injury – i.e Hyde Park Corner or Chelsea Football Club)
SC: What’s your work uniform?
HP: I have no discernible taste, so this really doesn’t work for me. Oh hang on – from October to April: Arsenal beanie.
SC: What do you like wearing when you’re not at work?
HP: Erm…
SC: We’ll read into that ourselves, ha! Tell us about some of your favourite clothing brands
HP: Aside from Adidas trainers and jacket, I’m pretty much brandless and treasured items. Photographs, pictures, books and letters. Memories, basically.
SC: What gets you energized and keeps you recharged?
HP: Ironically, the things that should do the opposite – running, footie, squash etc. Oh, and Arsenal (winning preferably).
SC: Guilty pleasure:
HP: Ketchup, cheese (although, strictly speaking, I’m not guilty about this). Abba, George Michael, Snow Patrol, Coldplay and I managed to cry watching Freaky Friday on a rainy Sunday.
SC: Favourite vacation spot:
HP: Any pretty cottage in any pretty village within three hours of London.
SC: One golden piece of advice
HP: Build your moral framework based upon the protagonists’ journey in any of John Hughes’s 1980’s films – or maybe Mr Myagi (from the original Karate Kid, obviously).
SC: Favourite movie:
HP: Definitely Freaky Friday, because of the crying.