Several arts and community organisations are based at the Albany including spoken-word promoters Apples & Snakes and Heart n Soul, who provide opportunities for artists with learning disabilities.

A daughter-in-law of Queen Victoria, the Duchess was an active patron of the Deptford Fund — a project founded to help women secure employment away from the dangerous local trades in the slaughterhouses.

[1] During the 1980s the Albany hosted performances by artists such as Elvis Costello, Squeeze, Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer,[2] Julian Clary, Courtney Pine and the Jazz Warriors.

However, in 2001 the Royal National Theatre's Art of Regeneration initiative invested heavily in the organisation, enabling refurbishment of the building by Sprunt Architects[3] to be completed and the re-establishment of a programme of performances.

It also runs a number of initiatives, such as the Meet Me at the Albany campaign that aims to provide activity groups and performance opportunities for the local elderly community.