Ealing Council have launched a creative manifesto which promises to promote more diverse kinds of culture, create more jobs, and make events more environmentally sustainable. 

At an event in Acton, the council launched their manifesto and five-year plan which they created alongside a taskforce made up of people from Arts Council England, the Greater London Authority's culture team and the University of West London. 

The manifesto sets out the council's priorities as being: creating local culture hubs in each of the seven towns to respond to local needs, stimulate business growth and progression routes into the creative industries though upskilling workshops and career videos, and making events and festivals environmentally sustainable. 

Ealing Council's leader, Councillor Peter Mason, said: "Our cultural manifesto is an ambitious plan to not only unlock the potential and creativity of everyone living in Ealing, but also to make it easier for the arts and culture sector to thrive. 

"We have already achieved things we are incredibly proud of, such as investing in our heritage buildings Gunnersbury Park Museum and Pitzhanger Manor and Gallery; setting up a Cultural Education Partnership so all our children and young people can access great art; adopting an arts charter for our schools; distributing half a million pounds in grants to our creative and digital businesses; opened a creative Enterprise Zone in North Acton and Park Royal.  

"We can't wait to build on these successes together with our residents, partners and creatives." 

The manifesto was also based on conversations had with people in the borough through a survey of people in each of the seven towns of the borough and focus groups which included people with learning difficulties and those whose first language is Punjabi, Arabic, Somali and Polish. 

Deputy Mayor for Culture and the Creative Industries, Justine Simons OBE, said: "I am delighted to support Ealing Council as they launch their ambitious manifesto, putting cultural strategy at the heart of their borough.  

advertisement

"Culture has the power to inspire our next generation, bring communities together and drive the local economy. Following the successful launch of the Mayor of London's Creative Enterprise Zone in Acton and Park Royal, I look forward to continuing to work alongside Ealing Council to support the creative industries as part of our work to build a better London for everyone."