King's College London

The closure of the programme reflects the university’s evolving strategic priorities and the changing focus of the Higher Education Innovation Fund (HEIF) towards economic and industrial strategy outcomes.

Established in 2012 as part of King’s knowledge exchange work, with funding from HEIF, King’s Culture developed a distinctive approach to connecting academic research with cultural practice and public audiences. Through long-term partnerships and creative collaboration with academics, students, cultural practitioners and organisations, King’s Culture created new ways for people to encounter, contribute to and engage with research and learning.

Over 14 years, King’s Culture developed and delivered an extensive portfolio of cultural programmes, from major exhibitions, festivals and public realm commissions to artist residencies, research collaborations, creative learning and policy contributions. Through collaboration with partners ranging from individual artists and grassroots organisations to major cultural institutions, the team connected research at King’s with audiences on campus, across London and beyond.

Working across spaces and platforms, including Science Gallery London, the Inigo Rooms, the Bush House Arcade and the pedestrianised Strand–Aldwych, King’s Culture helped open the university to the wider public, turning its spaces into places for creativity, dialogue, experimentation and discovery.

Over the past 14 years, many colleagues, students, artists, cultural partners, funders and collaborators have contributed to and shaped King’s Culture. Its legacy will continue through the people, partnerships, practices and ideas developed along the way.

Work is underway with King’s College London Archives to preserve key documentation, ensuring that the programme’s projects, publications, partnerships and institutional story remain accessible to academics, students and wider audiences in the future.