Creative and Cultural Quarters

A Global Centre for Culture, Creativity and Innovation

Battersea is home to some of the borough’s most significant cultural assets and creative industries. From Battersea Arts Centre, Sound Minds, Tavaziva Dance and The Clapham Grand to the Royal College of Art’s Battersea campus, Foster + Partners, Vivienne Westwood Studio and a growing community of design-led businesses, the area has become one of London’s most dynamic creative destinations.

In recent years, Wandsworth Council has helped support cultural anchor organisations, creative workspaces and major cultural programming through planning agreements, regeneration projects and investment in public realm improvements. In May 2021, London Children’s Ballet was Wandsworth’s first new cultural organisation to open its doors, followed in 2022 by the Royal Academy of Dance whose flagship headquarters were relocated to a bespoke building nearby.

Looking ahead, we are working with partners to connect Battersea’s cultural institutions, creative businesses, heritage assets and public spaces into a stronger cultural ecosystem. We want Battersea to be recognised internationally as a place where creativity, innovation, design and culture drive economic growth while remaining rooted in local communities.

A New Cultural District on the Thames

Culture and community sit at the heart of the vision for Nine Elms. One of Europe’s largest regeneration areas, Nine Elms has been planned as a place where homes, businesses, public spaces and culture grow together.

Since the radical transformation of Nine Elms began to take shape, Wandsworth Council has worked strategically with developers and partners to ensure the creation of new spaces for culture for everyone to access and enjoy. Matt’s Gallery, World Heart Beat Music Academy, Chocolate Films, Theatre503 Studio and BLINK Dance Theatre have all been awarded cultural anchor spaces (spaced secured from developers at a peppercorn rent). It is exciting to have such a depth and range of high quality accessible cultural experiences on offer from contemporary visual arts exhibitions, to film and media training, dance and music teaching and performance, recording studios and early playwriting development. 

Battersea Power Station continues to be a committed partner in this vision with The Cinema and NEON (a ground-breaking immersive experience that will transport you to pivotal moments in history located in a meanwhile space) all being based there. As have a number of the UK’s (World’s) leading creative businesses such as Apple and Penguin Random House.

While key community spaces such as the Rose Community Centre and Yvonne Carr family hub host a wide range of cultural programmes for residents.   

Don’t forget there are also a range of festivals through the year such as Happy Streets, and a public art trail that includes works by Yinka Ilori, Morag Myerscough, David Appleyard, Alexandre da Cunha, Sarah Lucas and Simon Fujiwara. 

Creativity at the Heart of Community Regeneration

Roehampton's cultural vision places creativity at the centre of regeneration, wellbeing and opportunity. Through the Alton Renewal programme and wider investment in community infrastructure, culture is being used to strengthen local identity, support skills development and improve quality of life.

The Council has worked with residents, artists, community organisations, the University of Roehampton and health partners to develop programmes that celebrate local heritage, support creativity and create routes into employment.

Facilities such as the Library, the Roehampton Family Hub, the Base Youth Club, the Leisure Centre, Focus Hall, the Arts Hub, Chantelle’s Kitchen, the Men’s Shed, Holy Trinity Church Roehampton and new spaces coming forward are becoming platforms for the wide range of creative practitioners in the area delivering cultural activities, creative health and community-led projects.

Celebrating Diversity Through Culture

Tooting has one of London's most distinctive and vibrant cultural identities. Its famous markets, food scene, independent businesses and diverse communities create a unique cultural destination that attracts visitors from across the capital.

The Council has worked with businesses, markets, artists and residents to support cultural programming, improve public spaces and celebrate local heritage. Tooting Market and Broadway Market continue to provide affordable space for entrepreneurs, creative businesses and cultural activity. 

As a recognised evening economy destination, Tooting plays a vital role in the borough’s wider cultural offer with music venues such as House of Ora, the Ramblers Inn and All Saints Church.

Nestled more quietly outside the Town Centre is the UK’s leading sensory theatre company Oily Cart who create interactive shows for babies, toddlers and disabled children, and their families. The Work and Play Scrapstore offer a treasure trove of waste and surplus goods as arts and crafts materials to inspire creativity for residents and groups across south London.

Creating a Creative Quarter Around the Town Centre and Riverside

Wandsworth Town is emerging as one of London’s most exciting creative growth areas. The Council’s vision for the Wandle Delta combines culture, heritage, creative industries, leisure and enterprise within a revitalised riverside neighbourhood.

We are working with developers and cultural partners to establish a new creative quarter supported by affordable workspace, cultural anchor tenants, incubator spaces and creative business support. Council buildings such as Wentworth House have been converted artist studios (WIP Space is providing 16, residencies and community galleries). At the Ram Quarter, Sambrooks have already delivered the Ram Heritage Centre and are working on plans for their next phases. While sites like New Acres have already demonstrated their commitment to the creative sector through their meanwhile programme delivered in partnership with the Royal College of Art and Morocco Bound Bookshop; Southside Shopping Centre and the Wandsworth Town Property Partnership are seeking to activate empty units through cultural programmes.

Music continues to play an important, though often unseen, role in the local area. Domino Recording Company is headquartered here, while the National Opera Studio and CATO Music focus on developing future generations of talent, both on and off the stage.

Through planning agreements, significant funding has been secured to invest in cultural infrastructure and maker spaces which will be coming forward over the next few years.