OPDC invites you to explore Old Oak and Park Royal at Open House
For the second year, OPDC is partnering with Open House to invite the public to explore Old Oak and Park Royal - a diverse, unique, yet little-known area of London.
Open House is a London-wide event, taking place across 21st and 22nd September, which enables the public to look behind the scenes at some of the capital’s most interesting businesses and buildings.
OPDC, with support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Arts Council England as part of the Great Place Scheme, is working with Open House and locally based arts organisation ARTification, to prepare a programme of free activities. These will include open buildings, walking tours, canoeing, arts & crafts and exhibitions for families and people of all ages to unravel the stories of industry, film and transport in the area.
Visitors will have the rare chance to go behind the scenes of London’s biggest industrial landscape, which is home to 2,000 manufacturers who supply London every day with 240,000 bouquets of flowers, 300,000 rolls of sushi and 240,000 books.
Amongst the many local organisations opening their doors this year are ArtWest Studios, John Lewis & Partners, Park Royal Fire Station, the Torpedo Factory and many more.
Liz Peace CBE, Chair of OPDC said:
We’re incredibly pleased to partner with Open House to shine a light on the extraordinary place that is Old Oak and Park Royal. Building on last year’s success, we hope to welcome visitors from far and wide to the area so they can see what makes it truly so special.
At the forefront of OPDC’s plans for regeneration is the celebration of the area’s existing character and intrigue. In recognition of that, we’ve received funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Arts Council England to put arts, culture and heritage at the heart of communities, both old and new.
Liz continued:
During Open House weekend, OPDC will be presenting its ‘Great Place Programme: In the Making’, a selection of activities, events and exhibitions designed to engage residents and businesses to influence their built environment through creative expression. It’s a celebration of those who made Old Oak and Park Royal so special in the past, and a nod towards those who will help make its future even better.
Notes to editors
About Open House London
- For the second year, Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation (OPDC), is partnering with Open House is London’s biggest architecture festival, organised by Open City. A citywide celebration of London’s buildings, places and spaces, the event gives a unique opportunity to explore and learn about the city’s most compelling architecture and design over one weekend (21-22 September 2019).
- This event makes parts of OPDC’s Great Place Programme: In the Making, which ensures co-creation and placemaking with communities are at the heart of the regeneration. Members of the public are invited to explore Old Oak and Park by uncovering, connecting and showcasing the area’s unique culture, creativity and heritage. The programme of activities can be found at: london.gov.uk/open-house.
About the Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation (OPDC)
- Old Oak and Park Royal is one of London’s largest Opportunity Areas with a new High Speed 2 (HS2) and Elizabeth line (formerly Crossrail) station due to be constructed at Old Oak by 2026. Redevelopment of the area has the potential to deliver 24,000 new homes and 55,000 jobs in Old Oak and 1,500 new homes and 10,000 jobs on the adjoining Park Royal industrial estate.
- The Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation (OPDC) is the Mayor's Development Corporation for the district and was established in April 2015 to drive forward future development plans for the area. OPDC has full planning powers within the 650-hectare site, which includes land in the boroughs of Hammersmith & Fulham, Ealing and Brent.
About the ARTification
- A community rooted organisation based in Acton, ARTification develops new relationships, generates imaginative experiences and unites neighbourhoods and its people. ARTification celebrates through the arts, enlivening areas across the generations through arts and enterprise, communities, creative industries and culture.
- ARTificiation have been commissioned by OPDC to deliver the creative activities that make up part of the Open House programme in Old Oak and Park Royal.
About the Great Place Scheme
- The Great Place Scheme have funded 16 pilot locations across England. Funding comes from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and Arts Council England, each of which have contributed £10m for projects lasting up to three years.
- The scheme has two central aims: to ensure that the considerable investment in culture has the maximum positive impact on jobs, economic performance, educational attainment, community cohesion and health and wellbeing; and to enable ambitious civic organisations and local businesses and communities to invest in and put culture at the heart of their thinking.
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