Create

Fantastic news for The White House, Dagenham! We are delighted to announce that Create London has received £500,000 from the Creative Foundations Fund (CFF) to redevelop and expand The White House on the Becontree Estate, Dagenham: the only independent, contemporary visual arts venue in London Borough of Barking and Dagenham. The White House brings together world-class artists and communities to host residencies, develop new artworks and engage residents in creative activities that foster individual wellbeing and social cohesion. Celebrating 10 years as a public cultural space in 2026, the locally listed house urgently requires investment to safeguard its future.

Administered by Arts Council England on behalf of Department for Culture, Media and Sport, this vital investment will ensure a sustainable future for the building, by resolving the insulation, damp and accessibility issues that threaten its viability as a public space. It will also enable the creation of a light-filled, new extension to the house to accommodate growing community demand and facilitate more local schools’ engagement (pictured).

Phase one of The White House renovations was successfully completed in 2016 by RIBA Stirling Prize-nominated architectural studio Apparata. Phase two of its redevelopment will thermally upgrade the historic building, replace failing windows and add a new extension. These improvements will reduce maintenance costs, support high‑quality artist residencies and expand creative participation for local audiences in one of London’s most culturally underserved boroughs.

Read more here: https://createlondon.org/create-london-announces-major-public-investment-to-safeguard-the-white-house/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=ccf_twh_news

Render ©2026 Apparata Studio

Calling all gardeners! Join us for the next few sessions of our regular Garden Club ✨🌱

Saturday 18th April
10am-12noon
In March we started growing vegetables and flowers from seeds and they are now getting ready in our greenhouse to be planted outside. Find out the health benefits of nettle tea and try some from our garden nettles 🌿

Saturday 2nd May
10am-12noon
Help us keep our vegetable patch w**d free and plant a mini wildflower garden. Find out how to grow avocado plants at home (bring an avocado pit if you have one) 🥑

Book here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-white-house-garden-club-tickets-1279204999589?aff=oddtdtcreator?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=twh_garden_club_26

We are looking for up to 3 new Trustees to join the Create London board. If you’re passionate about community-led culture, equitable urban development, and bold artistic practice, we’d love to hear from you.

We’re especially looking for expertise in:
🏛 Architecture & heritage capital projects
🏢 Commercial property development
⚖️ Legal & governance
💼 Enterprise & commercial strategy

For 12 years, we’ve worked alongside communities across East London – commissioning art, architecture and infrastructure that spark imagination, support collective action and create lasting change. With new projects on the horizon, this is a powerful moment to join us.

This is a voluntary role open to people ready to contribute their skills, time and insight to an organisation working at the intersection of art, housing, public space and community life. You’ll join a Board with a rotating Chair model designed to strengthen collective leadership and ensure diverse voices shape our future.

📅 Apply by 25 January 2026: https://createlondon.org/join-the-board-of-trustees-at-create-london/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=trustee_callout