Cultural Place Shaping on the Alton Estate
Roehampton's Alton Estate is going through an important renewal, and culture is at the heart of it.
Cultural place shaping means using arts, creativity and community activities to bring people together, celebrate the estate’s identity and make it a better place to live, work and visit. Alton is home to a diverse and vibrant community, and so we are building a programme to reflect this and the rich history. It includes festivals, performances, workshops, public art and everyday creative activities, shaped alongside residents
What we aim to achieve
Our aim is to create a cultural programme that lasts well beyond the physical renewal and continues to benefit the community for years to come. We want to celebrate Alton’s heritage, support skills and training, widen access to arts and culture, and leave a strong legacy for future generations, whilst ensuring residents feel part of shaping the future.
The programme is built around five strands: growing the local creative economy, supporting health and wellbeing through arts, ensuring access for all, inspiring young people and schools, and building strong partnerships between residents, organisations and institutions.
How it benefits residents
For residents, this means free and low-cost cultural activity on the doorstep, from large-scale events like Urban Flow, part of London Borough of Culture 2025, to grassroots projects funded through resident-led microgrants. It means opportunities for young people to perform, learn and gain experience, for families to take part in workshops and festivals, and for older residents to share their stories and benefit from creative health projects like Memory Boxes. It also includes new spaces such as the refurbished Focus Hall, co-designed with local groups, which will become a hub for rehearsal, performance and community events.
Together, these projects will make sure Alton’s renewal is not just about buildings and spaces, but about people, culture and community life. We want to create a legacy of pride, connection and creativity for generations to come.
To keep up to date with the Alton Renewal Plan visit the website.
What's On at the Alton
Check out the full programme of exciting events taking place on the Alton Estate and around Roehampton.
