The public campaign and official bid will be launched on 23 September to coincide with the Woolwich Carnival.

About the London Borough of Culture

Inspired by the success of Hull's year as UK City of Culture, the Mayor of London has announced a competition for London boroughs to apply for funding to become a London Borough of Culture.

Our bid

The bid represents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to put Woolwich, Thamesmead and the east of the borough on an equal footing with historic, maritime Greenwich.

Woolwich Arsenal and the surrounding areas of Charlton and Thamesmead were once the thriving heart of pre-war London. This area has undergone massive changes in the last 60 years.

Our bid to be London's Borough of Culture represents a bold vision that will use the transformative effect of arts and culture to spearhead the economic and cultural renewal of the local area by:

• Providing more opportunities for local people to get involved in shaping and participating in the cultural life of the borough
• Ensuring that young people feel an integral part of the social and cultural life of the borough
• Making sure that the borough is properly recognised as the rich, vibrant, multi-cultural place that it is with its own unique offers in arts and culture
• Celebrating the wide array of interesting (and hidden) places and spaces which residents are rightly proud of across the borough from Eltham to Thamesmead.

Have your say

Share your views on Royal Greenwich's bid to be London's Borough of Culture by tweeting @Royal_Greenwich using #mylocalculture and #GreenwichMeans.

'Definitive cultural destination not just for London but for the nation'

Councillor Denise Hyland, Leader of the Royal Borough of Greenwich, said: "We want to work harder than ever to establish the Royal Borough as the definitive cultural destination not just for London but for the nation.

"With Greenwich+Docklands Festivals, we will work hand-in-hand with residents and community groups in every corner of the borough to make this an application by, and for, residents. Together, we will show Mayor Khan and Deputy Mayor Justine Simons, London and everyone why we deserve to be London's Borough of Culture."

'Reflect the rich diversity of this great cultural destination'

Michelle Walker, Executive Director of Greenwich+Docklands Festivals, added: "We want as many local people as possible to play a part in shaping and supporting our bid to be London's Borough of Culture. By telling the story from across the whole borough, our bid will reflect the rich diversity of this great cultural destination.

"Engagement and involvement from the start are key. I encourage residents to visit us at the Woolwich Carnival on 23 September, share their ideas on our bid, and help us take our first bold steps towards our bid to be London's Borough of Culture."

Woolwich Carnival

The Woolwich Carnival is back on Saturday 23 September, bringing the streets alive with costumes, dancing, music, community stalls in a day of all out carnival fun. The carnival has been organised with residents, community groups, art organisations and schools who have created a day of celebration and festivities for the local community.