• Placemaking and co-creation – how can artists and communities have a meaningful role in shaping places from the beginning? 

• Unexpected and overlooked spaces – what possibilities exist in our high streets, public realm, green spaces, empty buildings and other less traditional spaces? 

• Living well and sustainability – how can culture, community and the environment come together to create more resilient places? 

• Learning from what doesn't work – what can we learn from projects, partnerships and spaces that haven't gone to plan? 

• Collaboration and networks – how can cultural organisations, communities, developers and other sectors work together more effectively? 

• Access and inclusion – who are our creative spaces designed for, who gets to participate and who might still be excluded? 

• Demystifying development – how can we make the language and processes around planning, development, funding and decision-making easier to understand and navigate? 

The Symposium is for anyone interested in the future of creative and cultural spaces in Newham and beyond, whether you're an:

• Artist

• Freelancer

• Cultural producer

• Community organisation

• Local government

• Public sector officer

• Cultural leader

• Developer

• Architect

• Researcher

• Funder

• Policymaker

or simply someone interested in how culture can shape the places where we live and work. 

You don't need to be an expert in planning or development. Part of the purpose of the day is to bring different experiences and perspectives together, make some of these conversations more accessible and create opportunities to learn from one another. 

Please click here to download the report.