Cheryl Kwok on Embedding Culture at Earls Court
Last week, our Culture Consultant Cheryl Kwok joined Future of London’s Future London Leaders cohort for a special site visit to Earls Court - a landmark development where arts and culture are being placed at the heart of regeneration.
Hosted by The Earls Court Development Company, the day gave delegates a behind-the-scenes look at how the former exhibition centre is being reimagined as a 44-acre mixed-use district, with plans for three major performance venues, flexible cultural infrastructure, and public spaces rooted in local identity.
Cheryl delivered a presentation on the cultural strategy Sound Diplomacy helped shape for the site — a strategy built from the ground up, informed by the mapping of over 1,000 cultural assets and a commitment to community-led planning.
Her key message:
“Culture needs to be embedded from the outset. When it's done well, it becomes a driving force for inclusion, identity and long-term growth.”
The day also included:
A tour of the site’s meanwhile uses including Empress Studios and community hubs
Insight from the Public Realm Inclusivity Panel, made up of local residents trained to contribute to inclusive design
And a powerful reflection on local opportunity from Hammersmith & Fulham Council's Assistant Director of Culture, Tourism and Sport, Val Birchall
We’re proud to be part of a project that treats culture as infrastructure, and grateful to Future of London and ECDC for facilitating this vital conversation about development, equity and place.
