“Art, writing, and culture are not, and do not need to be about entertainment and commerce, about making one’s way in society. They can be a mode of relating to each other that takes its cues from friendship, from engaging each other as separate and related people committed to each other in mutual support and protection.”
Established by Christian Mooney in 2007, Arcade offers a programme of exhibitions and a constantly evolving platform of performances, live events, talks, and publications. Through these varied formats, we aim to find new modes of presentation exploring the developments and complexities in contemporary art, across a range of practices, media, and concerns.
In 2021 Arcade shifted its legal status from a small business to a Community Interest Company (CIC) in order to respond to two key questions:
How can we support important and necessary practices where artists innovate and take risks — in form, subject, or modes of social engagement?
How can we address art’s impact on society, which can only happen with a truly democratic and inclusive audience?
These two questions and the communities they represent are deeply entwined. To answer them we are in the process of refining our business model – a gallery and event space with a kitchen – which will use food as a form of care, inclusivity, social glue, and revenue stream that can answer these questions in mutually reinforcing and beneficial ways.
Over time we have witnessed a common bond within our community — patrons, artists, business connections, and social institutions alike — that culture is fundamentally a space of human connection. Our programming around food, performance, and discussion has grown in importance, emphasising process alongside product, and community alongside commerce. This evolution, while breaking the mould of what is normally understood as an “art gallery,” is in fact a natural step shaped by the wishes and dreams of our clients, artists, patrons, and publics.
Our new space on the edge of Southwark and Lewisham marks the next chapter. Here, we will host exhibitions, community-led projects, and a food programme, alongside partnerships with cultural organisations, charities, and grassroots initiatives. We continue to work closely with Flat Time House — the home of John Latham and the Artist Placement Group — whose example of embedding artists in civic, social, and commercial contexts resonates deeply with our mission today.
“Christian brings amazing energy, openness, and reflection to his work, with fresh ideas and an ability to turn concepts into reality. What impresses me most is his genuine ability to connect with people, find common ground, and use those connections to uncover new possibilities.”
Imogen Slater | Art of Regeneration
“I’ve been truly inspired by his creative vision for transformative, progressive change in the fields of arts, culture, and broader societal issues.”
Allan Hogarth | Good Food Lewisham
“Partnerships like Arcade are vital — they help us reach the most vulnerable young people, offering them value, trust, and a safe space to create real change.”
Quince Garcia | Roadworks Media
Arcade’s new identity takes the form of a comma, or breath mark — a motif developed by artist Anna Barham. It symbolises pause, reflection, and the collective breath of an audience. Emerging from the lockdowns of 2020–21, it also represents a turning point for Arcade: a moment to ask what art is for, what it can change, and how it can help us care for one another.