East Bank: A Blueprint for Cultural Transformation

Join us for a public lecture exploring how cultural institutions and public investment can transform places, create opportunities for communities, and shape the future of cities. Drawing on the experience of East Bank in London, this lecture will consider the role of cultural policy in building more inclusive, connected and culturally vibrant communities. About the lecture: Rooted in east London, East Bank is the UK’s newest cultural district at the heart of Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. As the biggest ever cultural investment in a generation by the Mayor of London, with support from the UK Government and four neighbouring boroughs, East Bank has emerged from an ambitious programme of public investment and cultural policy and is reimagining the role cultural institutions can play in shaping places and people’s lives. Bringing world-class cultural and educational institutions together in a new urban district, East Bank explores how culture can be a catalyst for transformation creating opportunities for local communities, reshaping neighbourhoods, stimulating economic growth and contributing to the wider social, cultural and economic ambitions of London and the UK. But what does it mean to truly transform a place through culture, and how can cultural institutions themselves be transformed by the people and communities they serve? Drawing on East Bank’s experience, this talk will explore the potential of cultural policy and public investment to shape more inclusive, connected and culturally vibrant places, from the local neighbourhood to the city and nation. About the speaker: Tamsin Ace is Director of East Bank, the UK's newest cultural and education quarter at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London, bringing together London College of Fashion, UAL, UCL East, Sadler's Wells East, V&A Storehouse and Museum, and BBC Music Studios. Alongside partners and the local community, she leads East Bank's programme of creative, educational, and innovative activity for east London. Tamsin previously held cultural programming leadership roles at London College of Fashion, the Museum of the Home, and Southbank Centre.