Bloomsbury Festival Director, Kate Anderson, joins the Royal Docks Team as Head of Cultural Programme & Partnerships

We are delighted to announce the appointment of Kate Anderson as Head of Cultural Programme & Partnerships for the Royal Docks Team; a joint delivery team established in 2017 to help spearhead the regeneration of the Royal Docks, London’s only Enterprise Zone.

Kate has worked at a senior level across the artistic and cultural sector for more than 20 years. Her most recent role as Director of the Bloomsbury Festival saw her energise and revive the festival, secure funding and ensure its continued delivery of inspiring and engaging projects for years to come. In other roles, as Board Member for Jackson Lane, Streatham Space Project and the National Centre for Circus Arts, her passion, knowledge and expertise have supported the direction and work of the organisations to continually evolve and deliver projects of real cultural and artistic significance.

The vast area of the Royal Docks includes 4km of docklands and has a rich social, trading, engineering and industrial history – importing people and produce from all over the world. Today the Royal Docks is on the cusp of major transformation with thousands of new homes, jobs, public spaces and amenities coming forward as part of the area’s regeneration. Investment in culture and the community will be key to unlocking the potential of the Royal Docks, raising the profile of the area among investors and businesses as well as ensuring local residents are engaged and at the heart of the area’s plans.

The Deputy Mayor for Culture and the Creative Industries, Justine Simons OBE, said: “Having worked in the arts for more than 20 years, if anyone has the experience to ensure culture thrives in East London, it’s Kate. As the Docks undergo major regeneration, Kate will put culture centre stage and help transform it into a vibrant new destination for London.”

Kate Anderson, said: "I am absolutely delighted to be joining the Royal Docks Team at this important stage in the project’s development. The Royal Docks is spectacular, and the plans for its future are incredibly exciting. The history of the area, its industrial and commercial nature, and its global connections provide an inspiring canvas for a world-class cultural programme. However, it is the local community, past, present and future, who will give our cultural programme its unique Royal Docks flavour. I am excited to be joining a hugely talented and committed team and a vibrant community of residents and stakeholders. Together, we are planning to create rich cultural infrastructure and programme of exceptional quality that really reflects this extraordinary part of East London."