London is the cultural envy of the world. In the past year, the capital has topped surveys of the best cities for culture in Europe and globally, and this success is thanks in no small part to Justine Simons. Her name may be unfamiliar to many, but as deputy mayor for culture and the creative industries at City Hall, she has been instrumental in shaping London’s art scene over the past two decades.
From leading projects such as the Fourth Plinth and the new East Bank development to changing planning laws and ensuring culture is plugged into every level of policy, she brings creative thinking to the bureaucracy of local government. “I see my role as championing culture and doing everything I can to keep culture at the top of its game,” the 54-year-old says, adding that culture can often land somewhere near the bottom of priority lists for politicians. “I hope I’ve been able to reposition it as the lifeblood of the city.”.
For those working in the arts in London, her influence looms large: as a champion, networker, facilitator and enabler, and she is unmistakeable on the scene, cutting a dash with her flamboyant outfits. Mayor Sadiq Khan recently called Simons “one of the unsung heroes of our great city”, saying she is “making things happen that otherwise wouldn’t have happened”.
East Bank is an excellent example. This is the great new cultural centre opening up in the Olympic Park in Stratford next year, with the BBC, Sadler’s Wells and the V&A putting down roots out east, in a project worth more than £1bn. The Mayor’s Office call it “the most significant single investment in London's culture since the legacy of the 1851 Great Exhibition and will shape the cultural life of the city for the 21st century and beyond”. And Simons was the person who made it happen.
