ABOUT US
London Community Network has been part of the creative community in Hackney since 2006.
Based in a group of railway arches on Beck Road, we provide affordable workspace for artists and a place where creative and community activity can develop.
Over the years, the arches have brought together artists, makers, local organisations and community partners through exhibitions, workshops, events and collaborative projects.
OUR STORY — BECK ROAD
Beck Road has a long association with artists and creative communities. During the 1980s, the street was home to a remarkable group of artists who lived and worked alongside local residents, helping to establish the creative character for which the area became known. London Community Network grew from this environment and from a commitment to preserving space for creativity and community in a rapidly changing part of East London.
Beck Road, 1988. Photographs by Edward Woodman
1995 — A HOME FOR ART AND COMMUNITY
In 1995, artist and Beck Road resident, Frances Quesnel acquired the lease for the railway arches that would become the home of London Community Network. Her vision was to create a space that could support the local community while promoting and providing opportunities for the arts. The unusually long-term lease gave the organisation a permanent base from which this work could develop, providing affordable workspace for artists alongside a place for creative and community activity.
Frances Quesnel, artist and founder of London Community Network. Photograph by Leanne Finn Davies.
Artist Helen Chadwick at 45 Beck Road, 1987. Photograph by Edward Woodman.
FROM ARTIST STUDIOS TO SHARED CREATIVE SPACE
The creative community around Beck Road included artists living and working alongside one another, forming a distinctive part of the area’s identity. This artistic legacy continued through London Community Network, with the railway arches providing affordable workspace where artists could develop their practice and take part in exhibitions, workshops and collaborative projects.
Today, that creative purpose continues, while the way the arches are used is expanding. Alongside the artist studios, the larger arch is becoming a shared space for exhibitions, workshops, events and activities involving local residents and community organisations.
It is a natural continuation of the original vision: protecting space for artists while opening up new opportunities for creativity and community to come together.
The arches today
2024 - A NEW CHAPTER
In 2024, London Community Network began a new chapter with the refurbishment of the large arch. Designed by resident architects A347, the project transformed the space while retaining the distinctive character of the original railway arch.
The refurbishment created a more flexible and welcoming environment for exhibitions, workshops, events and other creative activity, while the surrounding arches continue to provide affordable workspace for artists. It also opened up new possibilities for bringing artists, local residents and community organisations together and for developing the arches as a resource for the wider community.
The refurbished large arch, 2024
Halloween at the arches 2025— a community event for local children and families
TODAY - ARTISTS AND COMMUNITY
Today, London Community Network continues to provide affordable workspace for artists while developing its role within the wider community. The arches are home to a diverse group of creative practitioners, while the larger shared space is increasingly being used for exhibitions, workshops, events and activities that bring people together.
From creative workshops and exhibitions to celebrations and events for local families, the aim is to make the space welcoming and accessible while retaining the independent creative character that has always been part of Beck Road.
LCN continues to build connections between artists, local residents and community organisations, creating opportunities for people to meet, participate, make and share ideas.