Royal Greenwich Launches London's Newest Cultural Destination

by Our Staff Reporter | Greenwich

The Royal Borough of Greenwich has unveiled ambitious proposals to create a significant new cultural and heritage quarter for London. The borough is securing the leases on a set of key heritage buildings at the famous Royal Arsenal site and is in discussions with high quality innovative arts and cultural organisations about locating themselves in the area.

The buildings and the location - on the banks of the River Thames - offer a unique, attractive and ideal setting to establish London’s newest cultural destination.

Royal Arsenal Area, Woolwich

The proposals are part of the borough’s wider regeneration, including the transformation of the immediate Royal Arsenal area, which is delivering 4,500 quality new homes and a new Crossrail station, as well as new shops, restaurants and quality public open spaces and community facilities.

The Royal Borough of Greenwich recognises the intrinsic value of arts and culture, not just for the entertainment and enjoyment that they bring but the wider benefits such as tourism and economic development. During a time of increasing financial pressures, Royal Greenwich is unique in making a significant investment in arts and culture to stimulate regeneration and access to the arts. This investment is set to reap dividends with tourism and arts already contributing £1.2bn to the local economy each year and supporting more than 16,000 jobs.

The Royal Borough is already recognised as a superb centre of culture, its rich mix of arts and entertainment helping to attract nearly 20 million visitors from all over the UK and worldwide every year. The borough has already sought to attract cultural organisations to locate in Woolwich which has resulted in some notable successes.

Royal Arsenal Area, Woolwich

Two highly regarded cultural organisations have located to Woolwich; the Millennium Performing Arts School and Hangar Arts in Warspite Road. The Royal Borough’s plans also aim to try to use Woolwich’s military heritage to do for the town what the naval heritage has done to the Greenwich economy.

Councillor Miranda Williams, Royal Borough of Greenwich Cabinet Member for Culture and Creative Industries said: “This is an incredibly exciting vision. It’s about putting Woolwich and the borough firmly on the map as a leading cultural destination and it is an important part of our wider regeneration story. We’re bringing some beautiful disused buildings back into use that offer a unique facility and a perfect setting for an arts and culture base."

"The Royal Arsenal is being transformed with new homes and high quality open spaces, all set along a wonderful riverfront. We saw exactly what this vibrant location can offer when a million visitors came to our wonderful Tall Ships festival last summer – we want to do all we can to continue to build on that success by establishing a permanent arts and culture destination here.”

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