Westminster's Cultural Strategy 2026-30

Contestants from Westminster's Dance Westminster Event on stage together.

Westminster City Council Cultural Programme

Take a look at the cultural projects Westminster City Council supports!

Westminster's Cultural Strategy 2026-30

Westminster City Council Cultural Programme

Community Activities. Culture and Community Grants supported co-designed community activities for 25,000 residents each year in cultural venues and community settings. English National Opera toured interactive productions to all care homes and day centres across Westminster Donmar Warehouse co-created theatre productions with young people and performed in secondary school halls to over 2,000 students ATG Creative Learning delivering theatre work placements and technical skills training for unemployed Westminster residents WCC Libraries and Children Services offer holiday programmes, family workshops and performances.

Promoting Creative Health. Creative Health activities have been coordinated by One Westminster, including Comedy on Prescription and befriending cultural activities. Dance Westminster, produced by Step Change Studios, has empowered those with disabilities. Community Choirs have supported residents with breathing difficulties. Out and About offers free tickets to cultural activities to over-65s during Jan-March each year. Culture Network meetings bringing cultural institutions, community navigators and primary care providers together.

Free Outdoor Festivals. Inside Out - Annual festival of free outdoor culture and heritage activities for residents and visitors throughout August. All activities take place in streets, parks and open spaces throughout the city. West End LIVE is Europe’s largest free celebration of open-air theatre each June in Trafalgar Sq. Over 50 shows took part this year and 70,000 attended.

Exploring Cultural Heritage: Unknown History and Culture walks WCC Culture grants to London Unseen Collective and Westminster Guides. Women and Power, Sikh and Punjab History, Black British heroes – contemporary narratives contextualising public monuments and heritage sites. Green Plaques Celebrate community pioneers ie. Reverend John Clifford at Westbourne Park Baptist Church, Windrush Generation Plaque at Paddington Station. Black History Month and other seasonal celebrations Celebrating heritage and examining the legacy of the past.

Empowering Young People: Artslink Westminster – new website to bring together all cultural schools offers together for teacher and cultural institutions hosting teacher twilights event to promote creative learning. Theatre for Every Child – campaign with Society of London Theatre to provide all secondary school children with opportunities to see one West End Show before leaving school. Young People and Families Programme provides after-school clubs focused on drama, dance, and art, community festivals, holiday projects and monthly art workshops and theatre shows.

City Lions. City Lions - engages over 2000 young people aged 13-16 each year. Creative and Cultural Engagement - immersive experiences in the arts and culture sector, including workshops, exhibitions, and performance. Career Development and Mentorship - mentorships, work experience placements, and career workshops with industry professionals. Youth Leadership and Empowerment – leadership, planning and youth-led projects, fostering confidence and community involvement.

North Paddington Creative Enterprise Zone (CEZ). North Paddington has been designated by the Mayor of London as a Creative Enterprise Zone, recognising its rich cultural heritage and supporting the Council’s commitment to boosting the area’s creative economy. CEZs deliver against the four programme pillars: SPACE Creating affordable workspace. Utilising underused space. Protecting existing cultural spaces. BUSINESS & SKILLS DEVELOPMENT Supporting creative career pathways and offering business support to artists and entrepreneurs. POLICY Working across policy areas to support artists and creative businesses. CREATIVE COMMUNITY Creating connections and partnership opportunities.

Art in everyday places. Art integrated into new Westminster facilities. Refurbishment of eight public conveniences across Westminster by 2026 with tile designs by artist, James Lambert. Transforming public spaces with art and design. Grand Union canal side. Paddington/Bayswater streetscapes. Edgware Rd community squares. Strand-Aldwych newly pedestrianised zone. Green public art trail. SouthWestFest displayed art works by local people about the climate emergency in high street windows across south of borough.

You can find out more about Westminster Cultural programmes on the council Arts and Culture webpages.
WCC Libraries and Archives run many free creative workshops, performances and talks all year round.
The North Paddington Creative Enterprise Zone supports local people with skills, mentoring, workspaces and networking opportunities.
Westminster Adult Education Service offer affordable creative courses and apprenticeships.

Discover more

Final Cultural Strategy 2026-2031

The final version of the Cultural Strategy has now been published! Read it here!

Westminster City Council Cultural Strategy 2021-2025 Title.

Westminster City Council Cultural Strategy 2021-2025

Read the council's existing cultural strategy!

Opera in Care Homes programme - elderly woman with pirate hat interacting positively with other woman at opera in care home event.

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