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The Second Floor (T2F), one of Karachi’s most prominent community spaces, closed its DHA Phase 2 venue on June 15 after nearly 19 years, ahead of its relocation to a new site in the city’s Korangi area.

The team managing the venue announced the closure and relocation on Instagram, highlighting the many ways the space had become part of the city’s cultural fabric.

Originally founded by Sabeen Mahmud in 2007, the post said T2F had become “a sanctuary for art, music, literature and open dialogue, providing a platform for artists, writers and activists”.

It said the venue had benefited from the “generous support and sense of ownership shown by its community” and was moving to a new location to better serve its patrons.

“We’re excited to announce a move to a much larger, modern facility featuring two indoor auditoria, an open-air performance space, a café, and an art gallery. Programmes are expected to resume at the new location by early August,” the venue’s team said.

Management said Mahmud’s vision had made T2F into “a place where differing opinions could be expressed with respect, where thoughtful dialogue was encouraged, and where ideas about the city, society and the nation could be exchanged freely and meaningfully”.

They said they remained committed to “fostering creativity, self-expression and community engagement in all their forms”.

Management thanked everyone who supported the venue and continued to visit “despite the limitations of space and infrastructure”.

The team said the new venue would “enable us not only to expand our programmes and outreach, but also to elevate the scale and quality of our presentations and activities”.