We find new ways for art and creative practice to benefit the lives of people in towns and cities.

Create London commissions art and architecture in the public realm.  We support communities and creative practitioners to work collaboratively, finding new ways to make positive contributions to civic life.

We do two things:

We commission ambitious new art and arts infrastructure

We seek to positively impact civic and community life

 

Our work is situated at the intersection of these. We set out to create a dynamic relationship between them: a virtuous circle. 

Our belief is that working in public settings can enrich creative practice and that working with artists can in turn enrich civic and community life.

 

Who we are

Create London is a charity that finds new ways for art and creative practice to positively impact civic and community life.

Over our ten-year history, our focus has shifted from temporary projects in east London to establishing long-term artist- and community-led initiatives across the UK. Since 2011 we have helped to set up ten new organisations that include an adventure playground, a community-minded art school, and London’s leading employability programme  for young people in the creative sector, and a year-long multi-disciplinary programme marking the centenary of Britain’s largest social housing estate.

We work with artists, architects, communities, cultural and public institutions and local authorities, developing projects that create lasting and sustainable benefits, and increase participation in creative practice, create jobs and support community growth.

Our work in policy underpins our practice and we have collaborated with the Universities of Edinburgh, Goldsmiths and Sheffield to commission pioneering research on inequalities in the UK cultural industry.

We are part of a growing international movement that seeks to expand what art can do and who it is for.

 

Values

• Artistic excellence   We believe in the value of ambitious and pioneering creative practice and the importance of working outside of traditional cultural spaces, reaching new audiences and responding to local community needs, interests and identities.
• Collaboration We believe in the value of building relationships between artists, creative practitioners, cultural and civic organisations and local communities. 

Working in partnership enriches our practice; achieving more together than we can do alone. 

• Innovation we test out new models; taking risks, capturing learning and reflecting on successes and challenges as we go 
• Inclusion We are committed to ensuring that our organisation, programme and the artists we commission reflect and respond to the communities we work with. We take positive action to include groups that are currently under-represented in and by the cultural sector.
• Wellbeing we have a responsibility for the wellbeing of our team and the creative practitioners and communities we work with. We aim to create safe, supportive and positive environments and respond to the changing needs of our people.

 

We are part of a growing international movement that seeks to expand what art can do and who it is for.