Culture strategy set to boost creative economy in Royal Greenwich

The Royal Borough of Greenwich has launched its first ever Culture Strategy, following extensive conversations with local communities, residents, cultural organisations, developers, local businesses and schools.

The Council and the local arts and culture sector will work together to deliver the strategy and reach their ambitious shared vision for the Royal Borough of Greenwich in 2030 to be a place where “creative people, innovation and cultural connections inspire, encourage and flourish”.

The strategy recognises the borough’s wellestablished creative sector, sets out a clear plan for its long-term future and supports the Council’s carbon neutral targets.

Councillor Ann-Marie Cousins, Cabinet Member for Equality, Culture and Communities, said: “We’re a unique borough where diverse communities collaborate to create, tell stories and make fantastic things happen. The return of the world-renowned Greenwich and Docklands International Festival, funded by Royal Greenwich Festivals, is proof of that.

"Our special cultural identity has also been recognised by the Mayor of London. This year, we beat competition from across the capital to secure a Cultural Impact Award.

"This Culture Strategy is your strategy as well as ours. It celebrates our incredible creative sector and gives a clear shared vision that will see our communities create, connect and flourish. We’re also creating a new Culture Board to drive the strategy forward, and we want our residents to be part of it.

"Together we can showcase and build our dynamic cultural sector and enable people of all ages and abilities to enjoy a wide range of experiences."

Councillor Adel Khaireh, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, said: “Culture is all around us, from our green spaces and riverside places to our heritage sites and contemporary town centres.

“Culture creates opportunities for our children and young people to learn, collaborate, grow and express themselves. It nurtures talent, skills and confidence and provides jobs and training within the creative economy.

“By working together with our communities and schools to deliver our first ever Culture Strategy, we will ensure that culture in our borough provides endless possibilities for children and young people for years to come.”

Michelle Walker, London Director at Arts Council England, said: “It’s great to see the Royal Borough of Greenwich announce this exciting Culture Strategy to help improve the already burgeoning cultural opportunity within the region. We hope this will support the Council’s work towards increasing creative and artistic activities for residents, as well as those travelling from further afield.

“With Royal Greenwich having recently won a London Borough of Culture Impact Award, proudly supported by Arts Council England, I look forward to seeing how the transformative opportunity of that programme will further embed the ambitions of this Culture Strategy and to celebrating its achievements in the years ahead.”

This year, the Mayor of London presented the Council with one of three Cultural Impact Awards. The £200,000 award will fund a collaboration in Woolwich between the Council, local young people and cultural organisations, and will play a key part in delivering their Culture Strategy.