Cultural place-shaping
Arts and culture play an integral and valuable role in making prosperous, healthy, and attractive places. By bringing people together, arts and culture provides a sense of vitality in our neighbourhoods, on our high streets, and in regeneration areas - contributing to the health and growth of where we live, work and play. By investing in creativity, we are shaping a more vibrant, inclusive, and connected Wandsworth.
Place-shaping through creativity helps nurture cultural infrastructure, supporting new organisations to flourish locally and play an active role in Wandsworth’s wider cultural offer. Wandsworth is also committed to commissioning high-quality, meaningful art in the public realm, making our shared spaces more inspiring and inclusive.
Culture & Communities
Cultural Place Shaping on the Alton Estate
View more - Cultural Place Shaping on the Alton Estate
Winstanley and York Road Cultural Regeneration Programme
View more - Winstanley and York Road Cultural Regeneration ProgrammeCultural Anchor Tenants
Wandsworth's Cultural Anchor programme works strategically with developers and partners to bring cultural organisations into the Borough. In May 2021, London Children’s Ballet was Wandsworth’s first cultural anchor tenant to open its doors in Battersea, followed by a cohort of cultural organisations including Matt’s Gallery, World Heart Beat Music Academy, Chocolate Films and Theatre503 Studio in Nine Elms, and BLINK Dance Theatre in Battersea.
Matt's Gallery
BLINK Dance Theatre
World Heart Beat
Randall Pattern Play
1000 Londoners: How One Community Transformed Derelict Land into a Public Park
This short documentary film explores the transformation of a derelict piece of public land in Wandsworth, London, into a valued community greenspace through the efforts of local residents.
In the mid-1970s, Eloise’s parents, Eileen and Brian, were among the first residents of Carey Gardens Estate. With no garden space of their own, they recognised the potential of a neglected area across from the estate. Together with neighbours, they took direct action, laying turf, planting trees, and installing play equipment, to create a usable green space for local families.
Brian, an artist, also contributed creatively by painting murals around the area, including a prominent piece on the wall of the green space. These works aimed to make art accessible and relevant to the community, celebrating local life and identity. Although the park was later closed and returned to council control, it has recently reopened with support from Wandsworth Council. As part of the relaunch, a new mural was commissioned from artist Pins, who involved local children in the creative process, echoing the community-led spirit of the original project.
This film was created by Wandsworth-based film-makers Chocolate Films, and is part of 1000 Londoners, a ten-year digital project which aims to create a digital portrait of a city through 1000 of the people who identify themselves with it.
Place-shaping News
