Tomorrow’s Culture: How Will the Next Generation Shape Our World?
From October 30 to November 1, Dubai hosted the World Cities Culture Summit 2024, welcoming over 140 senior leaders from 36 cities worldwide. Creative Land Trust (CLT) was among the participants, proud to share our experiences in supporting the creative sector in London and beyond.
The summit, organised by the World Cities Culture Forum (WCCF), explored the theme “Tomorrow’s Culture: How Will the Next Generation Shape Our World?” and brought together policymakers, deputy mayors, and cultural leaders.
Founded in 2012 by Justine Simons OBE, London’s Deputy Mayor for Culture and the Creative Industries, the WCCF champions collaboration between global cities to tackle shared social, environmental, and economic challenges through cultural strategies. Today, the Forum represents 44 cities across six continents, with a combined population of 245 million and 60 UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
CLT was represented at the summit by its former CEO, Gordon Seabright, now Chief Executive of the Horniman Museum and Gardens in London. Gordon participated in the Global Innovations in Creative Spaces panel discussion chaired by Tracey Knuckles of Bloomberg Philanthropies, alongside:
Ben Macintosh, Manager of Cultural Partnerships, Toronto
Lisa Colley, Manager of Cultural Strategy, Sydney
Xavier Marcé, Deputy Mayor for Culture, Barcelona
The session focused on innovative approaches to addressing the pressing issue of the provision of affordable space for creatives. As one of the pioneers, thanks to the inspiration and support from Mayor of London, Gordon was able to share tangible results to many issues found today. Participants were particularly interested in the number of buildings CLT has secured, studios opened, artists supported, and models of acquisition tested.
The session showcased diverse approaches to supporting creative communities worldwide. Ben Macintosh, Manager of Cultural Partnerships, shared the remarkable resurgence of Artscape, a previously celebrated organisation that faced collapse but was revitalised through municipal leadership, ensuring minimal disruption for local artists. Lisa Colley, Manager of Cultural Strategy, shared Sydney’s cultural strategies, inspired in part by London’s learnings and experience, impressed with their adaptability, though participants noted their slower implementation. Xavier Marcé, Deputy Mayor for Culture, added to the dialogue about the universal challenges cities face in embedding creativity into urban planning.
Attendees expressed keen interest in CLT’s milestones, including the number of buildings secured and the models tested to ensure long-term affordability for creatives.
Reflecting on the summit, Gordon said: “It was a great privilege to be invited to share the experiences of CLT in tackling the shared challenges of anchoring culture and creativity in global cities. And a privilege too to learn from colleagues from across the world. The World Cities Culture Forum is so effective as a place for exchanging learning and ideas to make our cities the best possible places to live and work.”
Justine Simons OBE, chair of WCCF, also praised CLT’s accomplishments, noting how much our work has resonated internationally. The session on affordable workspace was one of the summit’s most attended, with participants continuing to engage on the topic throughout the event.
World Cities Culture Summit reinforces the importance of global collaboration in addressing challenges facing creative industries. It’s was a privilege to share insights and lessons learned from the effort behind CLT’s mission to secure long-term affordable workspace, while drawing inspiration from organisations shaping the cultural landscape for future generations.