Drawing on the V&A’s work at East Bank in the Olympic Park, Tim shares how projects like the V&A East Museum and Storehouse are rethinking what a museum can be: open, accessible and embedded in the life of local communities. From behind-the-scenes access to working collections to bold public art, these initiatives are designed to engage new audiences and make culture feel relevant.
We explore how this approach is attracting a younger, more diverse audience, helping to rebuild trust in national institutions and demonstrating the role culture can play in social change. The conversation also looks ahead, asking whatLondon’s New Towns Enfield and Thamesmead can learn as they develop their own identities.
More broadly, Tim reflects on London’s evolving cultural landscape, where activity is no longer concentrated in the centre but spread across the city—creating a more inclusive and dynamic model for the future.
If you’re interested in how culture can help shape better places, this episode offers a compelling and practical perspective.
