London’s biggest new design district launched in Old Oak Park Royal

22 September 2021

The Park Royal Design District will be London’s biggest new design district launched at the London Design Festival 2021.

Sponsored by the Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation (OPDC), City & Docklands and Imperial College London, the district will showcase an array of local artists, makers and community-led projects that celebrate the area’s rich heritage, diversity and creative talents.

From 24 to 26 September, this underexplored part of the city will host an impressive programme of 40 open studios, four exhibitions, nine workshops, walking tours, pop-up shops and film screenings, open to the public, to shine a light on the area’s history and tell the stories of the people behind West London’s industrial powerhouse.

OPDC, the Mayor of London’s development corporation responsible for regenerating Old Oak and Park Royal, is showcasing projects and artworks that have been supported by its art, culture and heritage programme, the Great Place Scheme, designed to celebrate Park Royal’s past and present, to help shape its future.

This £3m investment, principally funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Arts Council England, has commissioned 150 artists and local organisations, and funded 49 grassroots community projects with Small Grants of up to £5,000.

OPDC is bringing together this growing creative community for the capital’s annual Design Festival, and joining forces with a host of local artists, creatives and businesses, under the banner of Park Royal Design District.

OPDC is unveiling four Great Place Scheme commissions during the weekend:

• London's Kitchen a range of limited-edition products – collaborations between artists and Park Royal businesses, accompanied by a series of short films and podcasts, all proceeds going to local mutual aid groups
• Absolute Beginners community art project - visit the factory shop for products made by local young people in Park Royal, handmade using recycled materials.
• Work-Leisure OPDC’s Annual Art Commission, an exhibition by Bahbak-Hashemi Nezhad exploring things that workers of Park Royal make for fun
• Make Your (Land)Mark new public art and wayfinding trail – all designed in collaboration with the local community.

Other Park Royal Design District highlights also supported by OPDC include:

• “Meet the Maker” sessions and workshops – including Goodwaste – who design homewares out of waste found in Park Royal, Koalaa – an innovative prosthetic limb design company, and ByWuzzy – sustainable fashion made with upcycled denim
• Pip Hackett’s Canary Girls - a collection of handmade hats inspired by the WW2 female munitions workers of Park Royal
• EUTOPIA - an exhibition of Park Royal based artists whose interests explore ideas around Utopia.

For a full programme of the events and exhibitions, please visit Park Royal Design District’s website.

Justine Simons OBE, Deputy Mayor for Culture and the Creative Industries said:

The new Park Royal Design District shows the real power of community-led arts and culture. It showcases the rich cultural heritage of Park Royal in a new light and gives talented creatives a stage to develop and promote their skills. It’s yet another example of how our creative industries is driving our social and economic recovery.

Liz Peace CBE, Chair of OPDC said:

Mention Park Royal and most people think of a massive industrial estate. In fact, concealed within the maze of industrial buildings, both old and new, are some of the capital’s most interesting and creative artists, makers and producers. Our Great Place Scheme has given us a wonderful opportunity to engage and collaborate with thousands of local people to lift the lid on Park Royal as London’s new Design District. We’re excited to share what goes on behind those industrial doors, from homeware, to fashion and films, not to mention some of the best food in London.

Bill Amberg, Co-Organiser of Park Royal Design District and owner of Bill Amberg Studios said:

The buzz of creativity is hidden behind the closed doors of Park Royal’s industrial buildings. Once inside, you’ll discover new places and people – a close, inclusive community, with studios and workshops working together, sharing ideas. This is the way London should be: showing people what design can do. It’s an area full of raw potential, alive with experimentation and the spark of innovation.

Gary Sacks, CEO of City & Docklands said:

Community, creativity and lifestyle is at the very heart of City & Dockland’s new development, One West Point, set to transform the Old Oak and Park Royal regeneration area. We have engaged with a variety of local artists within Park Royal to lead the creative direction for the development. One West Point, when complete, will house 111 unique pieces of art and creative installations, and we are proud to be creating legacy homes and communities that will stand the test of time.