Understanding Culture and Creativity in Walthamstow
In Walthamstow there is an active cultural and creative scene, which is supported by the highest concentration of arts and cultural venues in Waltham Forest, mostly located around Hoe Street. The Council has actively contributed to enhancing this offer with investment into the refurbishment of Soho Theatre Walthamstow (former Granada Cinema), William Morris Gallery and Fellowship Square.
Building on the momentum gathered with its designation as the first London Borough of Culture in 2019, there is a strong agenda for cultural growth across the borough, with an exciting number of small, medium or large-scale cultural and creative projects being implemented or supported since then.
The Council is now considering opportunities to further strengthen Walthamstow as a cultural and creative centre for the Borough. Our aim is to better understand and support the cultural and creative businesses and networks already existing in Waltham Forest and facilitate the development of new ones.
In winter 2022 we began this research project by inviting you to participate and share your views in a series of in person engagement events and online survey's and tools via this Let's Talk Walthamstow platform. In Winter 2023 we completed the analysis of the information participants provided, and in May 2024 we published the findings on this page.
This research project was conducted by Waltham Forest Council's Area Regeneration team, in partnership with DK-CM architectural practice. The council would like to thank all those who contributed to this research, which has provided a baseline of evidence used to shape the council's wider Cultural Strategy, led by the Destinations team.
Click on the image above to download 'The Public Experience' report
-
We want to support, promote and celebrate culture in Walthamstow. What’s the single most important way to do this?
Give us your best ideas or give a ‘heart’ to other ideas you support.
For example, it might be an enterprise or venue that needs more support, something that you’ve seen somewhere else that you’d love to see in Walthamstow, or something that would make it easier to access culture in the town for particular people or groups.Please also feel free to comment on the ideas of others.
© London Borough of Waltham ForestView All Ideasover 1 year ago
William Morris Monument for LBWF
William Morris is the unofficial patron saint of Walthamstow but outside of the gallery we dont have any momuments to the man who's amazing art and designs are still popular to this day. What if we had a sculpture of William Morris in the borough? We have a 3d model of Mr Morrises sculpture from the William Morris Gallery and have made plywood sculptures before, Imagine a 2m tall sculpture made of slices of wood.
over 1 year ago
Oslo's public library that offers something for everyone
A place where you can find books – 450,000 of them – but also other offers and activities. The entire 3rd floor is dedicated to not only music, movies, comics and fairy tales, but also offers a wide range of loan-tools like 3D- and large format printers, sewing machines and podcast production tools from the extensive on-site workshop and studios. The library offers instruments, DJ equipment and sound-recording spaces, as well as a CD- and LP collection you can enjoy while visiting. You can also view movies in the basement-level in-house cinema or book the mini-cinema for a private family viewing
over 1 year ago
The London Hackspace london.hackspace.org.uk , a collective of makers, repairers and tinkerers, are looking for new premises.
Is there anywhere in the Borough (2 - 3000 sq. ft) available to rent?
