Increase, size, popularity and resilience of festivals and celebrations with public space events infrastructure
Why is it needed?
Significant cultural life takes place in Ealing's parks and on its high streets. Easter celebrations, street processions and celebrations for diaspora communities draw in audiences across the borough engaging with free or low-cost, local, and culturally specific arts and festivals (Kaleidoscope Creativity).
Ongoing development and regeneration in Ealing's town centres presents an opportunity to plan for the infrastructure for these activities from the outset, supporting the groups organising these events to build resilience, profile, and scale as well as accessibility and safety for visitors. High streets and parks within walking distance of stations with good transport connection should be prioritised, to help bring audiences to Ealing from across London and beyond (Commuterland Culturebuffs).
Infrastructure may include pop-up power sources on high streets for A/V, WCs and waterpoints, paved squares, structures for hanging banners, festival equipment storage. In some areas there may also be need for ‘soft’ interventions to support events, such as streamlined permitting and planning processes, licensing and advertising support.
Next steps
Key first moves include:
–Community engagement to assess specific production and infrastructure needs.
–Ensure planning for street-level infrastructure is included in all neighbourhood frameworks and embedded in regeneration plans (see planning note).
–Install pop-up power sources, designated areas for stalls, fixtures for hanging banners, and temporary structures to accommodate diverse events.
–Inform the local community, event organisers, and businesses about the availability of infrastructure for festivals and celebrations.
–Educate stakeholders on accessing and utilising this infrastructure effectively.
–Implement borough-wide events training bootcamps, to ensure Ealing residents have access to the skills necessary to support events and celebrations and can benefit from new opportunities.
–Collect feedback from event organisers and the community to assess its impact and make necessary improvements.
Alignment with
guiding principles
1. Create a network of cultural venues and facilities that are easy to reach, affordable and accessible for local people.
2. Encourage bottom up, grass-roots cultural activities that address hyper-local needs.
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3. Adapt industrial, empty or under-used spaces and buildings for cultural uses, including artists' studios, pop-up shops, exhibition venues and cultural event locations.
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4. Utilise the existing and developing transportation network to connect Ealing with West London and beyond.
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5. Embrace digital transformation to build a more inclusive and innovative cultural sector.
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Location
Borough-wide parks, high streets and town centres
Council teams
Regeneration, Licensing, Arts and Culture, Events, Highways, Parks, Licensing