In Barking and Dagenham we believe culture and creativity are an important part of building a strong community, and through the work we do at the Council we want to make sure all local people have chances to be creative.

We want to ensure our communities here in Barking and Dagenham experience and have access to high quality culture through our museums, heritage sites, collections, libraries and through ongoing programmes like New Town Culture, Becontree Broadcast Station and Pen to Print, among many others.

The new Culture and Heritage Strategy will set out the vision of the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham’s Culture and Heritage Service over the next 5 years from 2024-2030. The strategy will help us develop key creative activities and our cultural sites in the borough including:

• Eastbury Manor House
• Valence House Museum
• Archives and Local Studies Centre
• The Women’s Museum
• The Galleon Arts Centre

The Strategy will guide our work into the future with creatives partners, helping us to support our brilliant local arts organisations and spaces like Company Drinks, A House for Artists, The White House, Make It Barking, Ukon Careers, Barking and Dagenham Youth Dance, UCL Pearl, The Boathouse, the Cultural Partnership Group and so many others.

We know there are huge opportunities here in our borough with increased investment across our local film, education and museum sectors. Our role at the Council is to ensure this benefits all people who call Barking and Dagenham home.

We would like you, our local residents, artists, creative organisations and key sector partners, to feed into our strategy as we share our key objectives.