Published: July 12, 2024
Region: London
Four Corners is a pioneering charity committed to promoting socially-engaged approaches to film and photography, based in Bethnal Green, London.
For 50 years, it has fostered a culture of artistic excellence in a unique creative environment where Turner Prize nominees, BAFTA finalists and award-winning filmmakers work alongside new and emerging talent.
The charity’s creative programmes bring together local artists and communities to develop art that challenges and inspires, and it is the only film and photography centre in the UK to provide state-of-the-art equipment, training and exhibition space on a free or subsidised basis.
With a commitment to diversity and inclusion, Four Corners enables underrepresented people to gain skills and experience in creative media. The charity supports artists’ development, works with local communities and engages broad audiences through its cultural programme.
“Four Corners has banked with Unity since 1994. In 2003, the charity was given new premises but we needed to raise funds to extend and refurbish. Unity provided a loan to match-fund a European grant we’d already secured, to help with the development of the building.
“Once planning permission was secured, we took out a loan against a property with Unity and completed a full refurbishment of the premises. This included an upgrade to our studios and edit suites to further support our training programmes and film-making capabilities in the newly-extended building, providing the charity with an important foundation for future growth.
“Later, in 2016, we increased our loan facility with Unity as we invested in new film-making equipment and renovated our upper floor – transforming this into a new rental space for creatives. This gave photographers, writers and web designers the chance to work together in a shared space, and benefit from our on-site studio equipment and gallery.”
Margaret continues: “Today, our building hosts and supports 25 creative companies working in film, photography and related media. These businesses support trainees from Four Corners and provide a ladder of opportunity into the creative sector.
“We believe that film and photography can promote social change and make a positive difference, helping to shape our culture and understanding. But access to the arts is not equal, and we aim to change that. It’s so important to create new pathways into the industry so that new and diverse voices can share their work.
“Thanks to the support of our Unity relationship manager, Jack, we’ve been able to continually expand our operations. In doing so, we have further increased our reach and impact for communities and individuals across the UK.
“We choose to bank with Unity because of its unrivalled knowledge and expertise in the charity sector. Unity understands our aims and motivations, and shares our mission to provide positive impact and public benefit. The bank’s focus is on social engagement, not simply maximising profits. The integrity of its values appeals to us as an organisation.”
Four Corners’ current programme includes The People’s Gallery and Camera-works.
Its latest exhibition is I Am Who I Am Now: Selections from the Bengali Photo Archive. Running from 5 July to 3 August 2024, it offers a unique insight into the everyday life of the Bengali East End of London. The images are drawn from the Bengali Photo Archive, a new collection created in collaboration with Swadhinata Trust and Tower Hamlets Local History Library & Archives.
Later in September, Four Corners will host a major exhibition: ‘40 Year Anniversary of the Miners Strike’.
