Building Newham's Creative Future is an ambitious cultural strategy for the London Borough of Newham, which sets the Council’s vision and direction for culture in the borough for the next 15 years.

Publica was commissioned to develop a cultural strategy, built on extensive borough-wide engagement, mapping and research, that articulates culture’s contribution to inclusive regeneration and local growth as part of Newham Council’s Community Wealth Building agenda. The strategy encompasses existing and planned creative activity in the borough until 2035, and how culture can help develop a strong local economy and support recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic. 

Newham is located in the heart of East London and is one of country’s most diverse boroughs. It is home to thriving and talented communities of artists, theatre companies, community choirs and cultural producers who represent Newham’s cultural diversity and heritage. The borough is at the centre of some of the UK’s largest and most notable cultural development projects – East Bank and the Royal Docks. Together, this ambition and local energy is helping to secure Newham’s place in London’s cultural and creative future.

Acknowledging past uneven investment in culture in Newham, and how this has prolonged existing inequalities, the cultural strategy outlines a vision and 15-year framework for cultural investment and a long-term commitment to unlocking opportunities borough-wide. It aims to provide equitable access to creative and cultural expression, nurture talent and the diverse local creative economy, and support Newham’s ambitions for greater health, happiness, and wellbeing. To support all creative endeavours, it considers culture in its broadest sense, encompassing creative learning and employment, youth participation, arts and heritage, wellbeing and social inclusion.

The Process

Publica began by undertaking fieldwork in Newham’s eight community neighbourhoods to understand each area’s unique identity through mapping, photography and speaking to residents from each local community. This was underpinned by desk-based research, enabling the team to produce comprehensive borough-wide maps of cultural and heritage assets, public art, event, community and creative spaces, and of the micro-businesses and businesses in the creative sector.

Wide engagement was critical to the strategy’s development. Over a three-month period, more than 1,200 people contributed through one-to-one interviews, online and in-person workshops, activities in libraries and youth zones, and a public online survey. Contributors from the community included children and young people, creative practitioners, cultural organisations, community faith groups, Disability-led arts organisations, educational institutions and strategic stakeholders. Together they helped identify gaps in local cultural provision, key challenges and opportunities, and the creative and cultural sector’s ambitions. The conversations identified how culture in Newham could support the council’s wider priorities and the strategic role culture can play in Newham’s future.

Importance of young people

Newham is a young borough with approximately a quarter of its population aged under 18. To explore how the cultural plans for the borough can fully include and represent its young residents, Publica organised working sessions with young people, in conjunction with Newham’s Youth Empowerment Services. For one of these sessions, the Publica team facilitated a set of co-design tasks that enabled young people to be Newham’s culture team for the afternoon. Sessions centred on reactivating under-utilised buildings and outdoor spaces, waterways and communicating creative and cultural activity to young people. As part of our social value programme, Publica hosted work placements for 16–18 year olds from Newham Sixth Form College and London Metropolitan University. Students joined the team to develop their own independent projects relating to the emerging strategy and their thoughts on culture in Newham.

The Strategy

The cultural strategy envisages Newham as a place where culture, creativity and heritage drives inclusive participation, investment and wellbeing. There are five strategic focus areas: 

Culture for life: Lifelong creative learning and supporting fair employment opportunities, wellbeing and happiness. 

Powerful partnerships: Bringing groups together to exchange ideas, experiment and collaborate to increase inward investment and community impact. 

Loud and proud: Celebrating and communicating existing and new creative, culture and heritage programmes to develop a sense of belonging and support local enterprise. 

Culture First spaces: Providing and opening up spaces that are varied and inclusive for local enterprise and creative activity. 

Proactive mindset: Establishing a governance structure, management, training, and resources to support the cultural sector and lead with optimism.

The strategy was launched on the 18 March 2022 by the Mayor of Newham, Rokhsana Fiaz OBE, alongside an action plan for implementation over the next 15 years. The full strategy document can be found on the London Borough of Newham website, click here to read more.

 “This ambitious strategy sets out a visionary 15 year plan demonstrating how creative and cultural industries can contribute to our community wealth building agenda. I want Newham to be at the forefront of culture across London and beyond, creating lasting change and benefits that will be felt by all our residents as well as making Newham a destination and home for the very best cultural and creative organisations.”

MAYOR OF NEWHAM, ROKHSANA FIAZ OBE

Building Newham's Creative Future is an ambitious cultural strategy for the London Borough of Newham, which sets the Council’s vision and direction for culture in the borough for the next 15 years.

Publica was commissioned to develop a cultural strategy, built on extensive borough-wide engagement, mapping and research, that articulates culture’s contribution to inclusive regeneration and local growth as part of Newham Council’s Community Wealth Building agenda. The strategy encompasses existing and planned creative activity in the borough until 2035, and how culture can help develop a strong local economy and support recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic. 

Newham is located in the heart of East London and is one of country’s most diverse boroughs. It is home to thriving and talented communities of artists, theatre companies, community choirs and cultural producers who represent Newham’s cultural diversity and heritage. The borough is at the centre of some of the UK’s largest and most notable cultural development projects – East Bank and the Royal Docks. Together, this ambition and local energy is helping to secure Newham’s place in London’s cultural and creative future.

Acknowledging past uneven investment in culture in Newham, and how this has prolonged existing inequalities, the cultural strategy outlines a vision and 15-year framework for cultural investment and a long-term commitment to unlocking opportunities borough-wide. It aims to provide equitable access to creative and cultural expression, nurture talent and the diverse local creative economy, and support Newham’s ambitions for greater health, happiness, and wellbeing. To support all creative endeavours, it considers culture in its broadest sense, encompassing creative learning and employment, youth participation, arts and heritage, wellbeing and social inclusion.

The Process

Publica began by undertaking fieldwork in Newham’s eight community neighbourhoods to understand each area’s unique identity through mapping, photography and speaking to residents from each local community. This was underpinned by desk-based research, enabling the team to produce comprehensive borough-wide maps of cultural and heritage assets, public art, event, community and creative spaces, and of the micro-businesses and businesses in the creative sector.

Wide engagement was critical to the strategy’s development. Over a three-month period, more than 1,200 people contributed through one-to-one interviews, online and in-person workshops, activities in libraries and youth zones, and a public online survey. Contributors from the community included children and young people, creative practitioners, cultural organisations, community faith groups, Disability-led arts organisations, educational institutions and strategic stakeholders. Together they helped identify gaps in local cultural provision, key challenges and opportunities, and the creative and cultural sector’s ambitions. The conversations identified how culture in Newham could support the council’s wider priorities and the strategic role culture can play in Newham’s future.

Importance of young people

Newham is a young borough with approximately a quarter of its population aged under 18. To explore how the cultural plans for the borough can fully include and represent its young residents, Publica organised working sessions with young people, in conjunction with Newham’s Youth Empowerment Services. For one of these sessions, the Publica team facilitated a set of co-design tasks that enabled young people to be Newham’s culture team for the afternoon. Sessions centred on reactivating under-utilised buildings and outdoor spaces, waterways and communicating creative and cultural activity to young people. As part of our social value programme, Publica hosted work placements for 16–18 year olds from Newham Sixth Form College and London Metropolitan University. Students joined the team to develop their own independent projects relating to the emerging strategy and their thoughts on culture in Newham.

The Strategy

The cultural strategy envisages Newham as a place where culture, creativity and heritage drives inclusive participation, investment and wellbeing. There are five strategic focus areas: 

Culture for life: Lifelong creative learning and supporting fair employment opportunities, wellbeing and happiness. 

Powerful partnerships: Bringing groups together to exchange ideas, experiment and collaborate to increase inward investment and community impact. 

Loud and proud: Celebrating and communicating existing and new creative, culture and heritage programmes to develop a sense of belonging and support local enterprise. 

Culture First spaces: Providing and opening up spaces that are varied and inclusive for local enterprise and creative activity. 

Proactive mindset: Establishing a governance structure, management, training, and resources to support the cultural sector and lead with optimism.

The strategy was launched on the 18 March 2022 by the Mayor of Newham, Rokhsana Fiaz OBE, alongside an action plan for implementation over the next 15 years. The full strategy document can be found on the London Borough of Newham website, click here to read more.

 “This ambitious strategy sets out a visionary 15 year plan demonstrating how creative and cultural industries can contribute to our community wealth building agenda. I want Newham to be at the forefront of culture across London and beyond, creating lasting change and benefits that will be felt by all our residents as well as making Newham a destination and home for the very best cultural and creative organisations.”

MAYOR OF NEWHAM, ROKHSANA FIAZ OBE