THE CHRONIC LOVE FOUNDATION [CLF]
PRESENTS
The CLF Art Cafe runs over 5 floors of Block A of The Bussey Building. A 120-year-old multi-level warehouse space (that the CLF helped name, save and are still known as), hosting leading events in music, theatre, dance, film, art, and more. From grass roots to cutting edge, Bestival to Secret Sundaze, The South London Soul to Train to The Royal Court Theatre, Fred Wesley and The New J.B.s to Disclosure via MJ Cole, The Fatback Band, Nathaniel Ratliff & The Night Sweats - the list goes on and on and on.
Best of all, the venue is down to earth without pretence. From the smiling happy security at late night events, to the mirror-free ever evolving large yet intimate Interior, where different artists and promoters turn the venue into anything from an Alice In Wonderland Themed Forest to a spectacular 3D visually immersive space.
THE CHRONIC LOVE FOUNDATION
WHO ARE WE & WHAT DO WE STAND FOR
THE CHRONIC LOVE FOUNDATION [CLF]
WORKING FOR THE FUTURE OF THE PLANET
The Chronic Love Foundation (CLF) is a commercial Humanitarian company, set up in 2003 by Creative Arts Entrepreneur Jazzheadchronic Mickey Smith, Drummer / Producer / Arranger Marque Gilmore, Leading Barrister David Malone + Daige Mahone Ex Vice Chairman Sony Black Music and since 2005 run solely by Mickey Smith and partner Saija Kamarainen, it's purpose, to make positive global change through the implementation of creative projects in the creative + commercial arts fields, that simultaneously re-educate and raise funds to target and help eradicate the many solvable problems of the world; The Millennium Goals if you will.
Treatable diseases where vaccines are needed, supply of clean water, poverty, mass migration, insecurity, and conflict, as well as more local issues in the area; finding real sustainable solutions to world problems. Having presented major ideas to the head of DFID, or The Department for International Development, which leads the UK’s work to end extreme poverty, we have been actively involved in doing things to better our world. Having been shortlisted by the likes of Aardman Animation, Cosgrove Hall and The BBC, we were advised to invest in the project ourselves and set up our own infrastructure.
We took this advice to heart and started focusing more on CLF grassroots projects, in order to build a firm foundation for our larger global plans. (continued below .....)
SAVING THE BUSSEY BUILDING
THE CLF ART CAFE / THE BUSSEY BUILDING HISTORY
..... Coincidentally, around this time (2007 / early days of The CLF) a chance meeting with Eileen Conn of Peckham Vision lead to Mickey and The CLF joining forces with the organisation in order to fight the proposed demolition of CIP House, with proposed plans for the creation of a tram depot on the site.
Alongside Eileen, site owner Jonathan Wilson and architects Benny O'Looney and Adam Khan made a plan to save the building. Renaming CIP House with it's original moniker, 'The Bussey Building', the CLF then tasked with putting the building on the map, showing just how important it was to the community and Peckham's grand future. After 3 years of highly successful events, exhibitions, discussions, and meetings, in 2010 everyone finally came to their senses and we finally got TFLs planning permission withdrawn. Later that year we were successful in the creation of a new 1050 cap Arts Centre, namely The CLF Art Cafe. (continued below...)
THE CLF ART CAFE (BUILDING THE ARTS + THE FUTURE)
... Since then (2010) The CLF moved their headquarters permanently into the building, with the venue going from strength to strength - The CLF Art Cafe (still widely known as The Bussey Building) recognised as one of London leading centre’s of the creative arts. Hosting sell out runs / events with the likes of The Royal Court Theatre, The Factory, Bestival, The Hydra, and some of the world's leading local to International Live + DJ artists. Disclosure to Tom Misch via Fred Wesley, Brian Jackson & The New Midnight Band + launching a new Independent record label and events company Chronic Fonk Records.
2014 saw us expanding further creating and launching another major, highly respected venue, Rye Wax in The CLF Art Cafe Basement. Open since the summer of 2014 RYE WAX sells new & used vinyl, CDs, comics, books, games and prints. Also sold is fresh coffee, pastries, fines wines and spirits all day [5pm - late daily, open from midday Saturdays]. Rye Wax also has a performance space, lounge area and more + is home to and champions some of the UKs most progressive underground / cutting edge artists in music. Tenderlonious to Bradley Zero via Dillinja and The Egyptian Lover.
As well as Rye Wax, The CLF Art Cafe is also home to the World’s biggest Soul Night, the 4 floor weekly The South London Soul Train. Aug 2018 seeing the venue listed as London’s 18th most iconic venues (ahead of the likes of The Southbank, Royal Albert Hall and The Natural History Museum) in a Time Out Feature listing London’s 50 most Iconic venues. The CLF / Bussey now literally world famous for projects in Music, Theatre, Art, Film + Beyond. The venue helping to kick start the now thriving SE15 arts scene and generally regarded as The pride of Peckham.
Today, The CLF are currently working (amongst things) on the launch of its own film and television projects, new Rye Wax record label, the opening of two new venues The CLF Art Lounge & Roof Gardens (summer 2019) and The CLF Brookdale Club (Lewisham - opens Autumn 2019), as well as making plans to create a new centre of the creative arts to allow for the resumption of work on it's global plan to make positive change permanent. Work being undertaken via it's commercial humanitarian creative companies Chronic NPD, Chronic Film, Chronic TV and Chronic Communities Projects.
The Chronic Love Foundation (CLF) - Making positive change, permanent!
