Business Improvement District (BID) Better Bankside has commissioned an ‘Alchemist in Residence’ to uncover and amplify Bankside’s unique identity. The experimental cultural commission, won by sustainability-led creative studio Kerbside Collective, will delve into the rich tapestry of Bankside, exploring its history, culture, community and everyday life.
Starting today, Kat Pegler and Helen Kearney of Kerbside Collective (a sound artist and creative urbanist respectively) will run two weeks of participatory ‘Layers of Bankside’ workshops at Arch 23, on The Low Line (Bankside’s repurposed Victorian railway arches). Local businesses, workers and residents are invited to join the alchemists in uncovering Bankside’s stories, history and hidden corners – from earth listening and exploring the area’s urban soundscape, to gathering personal accounts and visiting out overlooked places.
The collaborative project will transform Arch 23 into a living exhibition, create a new public artwork in the neighbourhood, and produce a unique audio trail. To get involved, visit: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/cc/layers-of-bankside-4860607?_gl=1*1kwhxxy*_up*MQ..*_ga*NTQyMzI5NTE5LjE3ODYwMTMzODg.*_ga_TQVES5V6SH*czE3ODYwMTMzODYkbzEkZzAkdDE3ODYwMTMzODYkajYwJGwwJGgw
Bankside is an exceptional part of London, described by Better Bankside as “London’s Other Side.” Since its inception, the area has been rich in renegade art, food and industry. Between the 12th and 16th centuries, falling outside the City of London’s strict jurisdiction, Bankside became a haven for theatres, bear-baiting and taverns. It was this unique spirit that drove visitors and trade to the area.
Around the turn of the millennium, the arrival of Tate Modern and Shakespeare’s Globe accelerated a major urban transformation, turning an industrial heartland into a must-visit destination that today attracts businesses across professional services, media, tech, property, culture and hospitality. But for all its reinvention, Bankside has never lost its creative, rebellious identity.
This identity as “London’s Other Side” is a key draw for businesses, visitors and talent and amplifying it is the first goal of Better Bankside’s 2025-30 strategy. Nicole Gordon, Better Bankside CEO said; “Bankside is a world-class neighbourhood with a special character and rich heritage. With globalisation resulting in homogenous city cores, it is Bankside’s distinct identity that makes our incredible district stand apart and keeps it in demand.
“As the business improvement district for the area, we see ourselves as guardians of Bankside’s identity and are uniquely placed to tell its story. The aim of the ‘Alchemist in Residence’ project is to use experimental creativity to amplify and uncover Bankside’s otherness as this is one of our strongest assets.”
Kat Pegler and Helen Kearney of Kerbside Collective said; “Bankside is one of the most exciting and intriguing places to explore in London so being involved in helping to bring more of its unique identity to the surface is a privilege. We are using unusual, experimental approaches that should help reveal completely new aspects of the area’s uniqueness and we want as many Banksiders as possible to get involved. Co-creating with real workers and residents will uncover hidden stories and ensure the end result is really dynamic and refreshing.”
The ‘Alchemist in Residence’ project comes hot on the heels of the BID’s Frida Kahlo-inspired mural project with Tate Modern, which sees art escape the gallery walls and spill into Bankside’s streets. It is another ‘only in Bankside’ creative approach designed to protect and express the neighbourhood’s character as it evolves, supporting its continued resilience.
