Sadiq Khan praises East Bank as London College of Fashion opens and V&A Black music exhibition announced

Sadiq Khan visited East Bank for the launch of the new London College of Fashion and the announcement of the first major V&A East exhibition at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park today (November 1).

The East Bank development has received £600 million in funding, the largest ever cultural investment by the mayor of London.

The site formerly showcased London’s 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and has undergone regeneration after Khan proposed the vision for a “new culture and education powerhouse” in 2018.

Sadiq Khan told LondonWorld: "Five years ago we embarked on our vision for an East Bank as one of the legacies for the Olympics, and what this was about is having some of the world's finest institutions here in the East End.”

He added: “I've been really keen to make sure local people benefit from the Olympic legacy."

The new London College of Fashion building, part of University of the Arts London (UAL), opened its doors for the first time at East Bank today.

East Bank

A new exhibition traces the development of East Bank, with wooden architectural models showcasing its new cultural venues.

President and vice-chancellor of UAL James Purnell said that the new campus will create new opportunities and connections with schools, communities and industries in East London and beyond.

“Creativity, the lifeblood of our institution, has the potential to tackle our most pressing challenges and, in doing so, transform lives," he said.

“Through East Bank, we can reach and engage more people with this vision than ever before.”

V&A - The Music Is Black

The V&A announced the first major exhibition at East Bank - The Music Is Black: A British Story - which is due to open in 2025.

It will celebrate 125 years of Black British music history, from early 20th-century pioneers to groundbreaking music-makers of today.

The V&A will collaborate with other creative partners across Queen Elizabeth Park to produce a series of special activities, events, displays and live performances.

East Bank director Tamsin Ace said of the V&A East exhibition: "This creative programme will reflect the capital in all its diversity, and will be open to everyone who visits, lives and works in East London and beyond."

East Bank new additions

East Bank is also home to UCL East, which delivers multi-disciplinary education and research to approximately 4000 students.

A 550-seat Sadler’s Wells East theatre as well as the new BBC Music studios will open at East Bank in 2024 and 2025 respectively.

Sam Jackson, controller at BBC Radio 3, said: “The opening of our BBC Music Studios at East Bank will be a historic moment for us, and will enable us to continue to celebrate and share the best of classical music and pop across the world, as well as delivering for the local community in East London.”

Plans for the East Bank development forecast that it will create more than 2,500 jobs and generate an estimated £1.5 billion for the local economy.

The site is expected to attract an additional 1.5million annual visitors to Queen Elizabeth Park and the surrounding area.

Tim Reeve, deputy director and chief operating officer at V&A and chair of the East Bank Board, said: “East Bank is an extraordinary moment in the evolution of the UK and London’s culture scene.”