Queen Mary University: an anchor in East London. Queen Mary University of London is a global university which is committed, through its recruitment, teaching, and public engagement activities, to enhancing the lives of the people of East London. Our collaborative projects with community organisations focus on building resilience, inviting reflection on shared challenges, and encouraging community cohesion in one of the most diverse areas of the UK.
Queen Mary has a long history of thinking about how arts and culture can benefit local communities and address complex global challenges. The People’s Palace, opened by Queen Victoria in 1887, was originally a community venue where people of the East End could enjoy dance classes, organ recitals, donkey shows and art exhibitions, as well as gain skills in what are now known as the ‘creative industries’ - tailor’s cutting, woodwork, photography, and needlework. Today, Queen Mary continues to harness the radical power of art to change the world.