A £30 million injection of funds will support improvements at cultural venues, museums and libraries throughout the capital, with the objective of making the arts more widely available to local communities.

The initiative seeks to preserve and upgrade 24 locations across London, guaranteeing that artistic and cultural experiences remain within reach for residents in their own neighbourhoods.

The investment originates from the government’s Arts Everywhere Fund, a £1.5 billion nationwide programme designed to bolster cultural infrastructure. Among the beneficiaries are the Theatre Royal Stratford East, the London Transport Museum and Barking & Dagenham Libraries.

The £30 million allocation comprises three distinct funding streams.

Create London, The White House, Dagenham (Image: Google Maps)

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Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy stated that the goal is for individuals from every background to experience pride in their origins. Cultural establishments operating throughout London serve as vital guardians of local character and contribute significantly to the national narrative. The Arts Everywhere Fund is fulfilling the pledge to back cultural assets nationwide, broadening reach and ensuring their preservation for coming generations. This is exemplified by the grants being announced, which will advantage 24 cultural venues, museums and library services across the capital. The arts constitute the vibrant core of communities, possessing the ability to unite people during divisive times and dismantle obstacles to opportunity. The objective is to channel this influence to help construct a more prosperous tomorrow for London’s population.

Harrow Arts Centre, one of the sites to receive the funding (Image: Google Maps)

The financial support will facilitate structural enhancements, accessibility modifications and technology improvements. This forms part of Ms Nandy’s broader commitment to direct up to £1.5 billion toward the cultural sector during this parliamentary term, with the aim of rescuing more than 1,000 beloved arts venues, museums, libraries and heritage structures throughout England.

Michelle Walker, London area director at Arts Council England, remarked that this substantial commitment represents a crucial stride toward securing the future of cultural venues, museums and libraries at a juncture when numerous establishments encounter genuine difficulties. Throughout London, these spaces constitute the foundation of the city where neighbourhoods gather. By supporting these necessary upgrades, the funding will help guarantee that these establishments remain operational, viable and open to all for years ahead, preserving the creative spaces upon which London’s artists and audiences depend.

Shoreditch Town Hall, another one of the sites (Image: Google Maps)

The Creative Foundations Fund is directing £26.8 million toward urgent modernisation work at 16 arts and cultural establishments, encompassing the Southbank Centre.

Scheduled improvements at the Royal Festival Hall will secure the structure for coming years and enhance the experience for audiences and performers inside the building. The Museum Estate and Development Fund is distributing a portion of £1.4 million between two museums.

The 1,500-seat Electric Ballroom on Camden High Street sits near the recording studio where The Pet Shop Boys produced their initial tracks during the early 1980s. (Image: Wikimedia Commons)

The London Transport Museum will allocate its portion toward restoring its Grade II-listed glass canopy and safeguarding its collections. The Libraries Improvement Fund is distributing a share of £1.5 million to seven library services.

In Havering, Romford Library will undergo a transformation featuring an inclusive children’s section, a co-working enterprise hub and a community facility for events and activities.

Other significant initiatives comprise:

Rich Mix Arts Centre in Shoreditch has been granted £2,205,000 for accessibility enhancements and ground-floor reconfigurations.

The upgraded facility will accommodate greater visitor numbers, improve energy efficiency and generate fresh revenue via expanded café, bar, events and hire spaces.

The Museum of the Order of St John will obtain £413,015 to repair and replace the main and turret roofs of its Grade I-listed structure, improve drainage systems and install breathable insulation.

These works will maintain the building and its historic collections while reducing energy usage.

Barking and Dagenham Libraries will allocate £300,000 toward establishing Digital Physical Activity Hubs across six branches.

Lyric Hammersmith Theatre (Image: Google Maps)

These facilities will feature sports simulators and dedicated activity zones to encourage health, exercise and digital participation, particularly among younger residents.

Further funding phases are anticipated in the months ahead.

Further information regarding the Museum Estate and Development Fund, alongside the new Museum Transformation Programme and the Libraries Improvement Fund, will be disclosed in due course.

The complete roster is as follows:

London

Southbank Centre – £10,000,000

Harrow Arts Centre – £630,014

Certain Blacks – £150,000

Autograph ABP – £499,950

The Lyric Theatre Hammersmith Limited – £534,227

Theatre Royal Stratford East – £1,750,000

St Margaret’s House – £700,000

Create London, The White House, Dagenham – £500,000

Shoreditch Town Hall – £899,847

Kiln Theatre – £296,500

London Contemporary Dance (The Place) Limited – £660,000

Electric Ballroom CIC – £497,000

Rich Mix Cultural Foundation – £2,205,000

Royal Opera House – £5,000,000

VocalEyes – £102,254

English National Opera – £1,601,293

Museum Estate and Development Fund complete list of recipients:

London

London Transport Museum – £999,999

Museum of the Order of St John – £413,015

Libraries Improvement Fund complete list of recipients:

London

London Borough of Havering – £499,000

London Borough of Barking and Dagenham – £300,000

London Borough of Ealing Libraries – £50,000

RBG – Sport, Leisure and Library Services, Greenwich Libraries – £121,755

Harrow Libraries – £110,000

Camden Council – £149,655

East Ham Co-Working and Study Space – £350,000