The artist-run non-profit initiative HQI is working to nurture London's artists, providing long-term arts facilities within the city’s vacant buildings, and tackling the lack of creative support networks. Currently based in the former BBC Television Studios in White City, HQI’s community of residents are given at least 3 months of free space with 24/7 access, music and video editing studios, communal spaces, a workshop room, and an exhibition space and music venue.
HQI runs the major free arts development programme for 18-25 year olds, Sounds Like Hammersmith & Fulham (SLHF) in partnership with Hammersmith & Fulham borough, and funded by a Cultural Impact Award via the Mayor of London's London Borough of Culture Awards. The programme provided talks and workshops to nurture the skills and experience of young creatives, access to HQI’s music and video editing studios and art studio space, as well as support from HQI’s artists-in-residence, and a £1000 grant to support their project. SLHF also included a series of public masterclasses on topics such as AI to world-building and design, featuring industry pioneers including musician Mykki Blanco, film composer Seb Gainsborough, electronic musician Gaika, co-founder of the Manchester Collective Rakhi Singh, Spike Art Magazine editor Dean Kissick, and Aphex Twin’s Graphic designer Paul Nicholson.