The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has today announced £2.2m of funding to boost creative industries in the capital through his innovative Creative Enterprise Zones.
This latest investment includes an extended commitment to nine of the zones to continue their work supporting artists and creative businesses, a fund to support long-term investments across all of the capital’s 12 zones.
The Mayor launched his innovative Creative Enterprise Zones in 2018 to support artists and creative businesses to put down roots in their local areas by offering access to affordable creative workspace and the support they need to thrive. At the time artists were being priced out of the neighbourhoods that they had helped to regenerate.
This latest investment will see Croydon, Hackney and Tower Hamlets, Lewisham, Lambeth, Hounslow, Ealing, Waltham Forest, Haringey and Hammersmith and Fulham each receive a share of £630,000 to support artists and creatives in their Creative Enterprise Zones. This will enable them to unlock more affordable creative workspaces, champion planning policies that support cultural initiatives, provide advice and business support, and create jobs as part of the Mayor’s work to reverse the decline in studio spaces. The capital’s other zones, in North Paddington, Brent and Islington, grants continue to run and will be eligible to reapply for funding this year.
The Mayor is also extending a grant fund for boroughs to support significant, long-term investment across all of the Creative Enterprise Zones. Up to £1.35m will be is available for building development, large scale equipment and schemes to improve the energy efficiency of studios later this year. This follows a successful first round of £1.2m funding that included 20 brand-new affordable artist studios in Chiswick House and Gardens and a new energy efficient workspace at Raw Materials in Lambeth, to support local artists and makers.
The Mayor’s Creative Enterprise Zones are on course to have increased affordable creative workspace by 71,000 sqm this year, with nearly 80,000 sqm delivered by 2028, as well as helping to improve the energy efficiency of 7,720 m2 of creative workspace. It is also supporting 1500 small creative businesses and creating nearly 700 jobs.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “Culture is in the DNA of our great city. Creative Enterprise Zones have transformed London’s culture scene from grassroots level, protecting local artists, making workspaces more sustainable and creating more jobs. It is vital that we continue to invest in our creative future, providing opportunities for young and emerging talent to thrive. This investment will ensure that artists and creatives can stay in the capital, are supported to start-up and grow, and can help Londoners develop a range of creative skills, as we continue to build a better and fairer London for everyone.”
Matthew Carpen, Chief Executive Old Oak & Park Royal Development Corporation, said: “Park Royal is home to a thriving, innovative, creative community and through the Acton and Park Royal Creative Enterprise Zone over £200,000 has been invested in place-based projects working directly with key local organisations from across the OPDC area. As the Mayoral Development Corporation responsible for regenerating the area, OPDC is committed to investing in and supporting local people and businesses to grow and thrive. The Mayor’s funding, alongside OPDC investment, enables us to continue to support our incredible local creative community.”
