Reclaiming Space: Myths, Magic and Richmond High Street

Thursday 18 June 2026

Explore Be Richmond

Subscribe to NLA's newsletter

Marketing & Communications Manager
Be Richmond

Reclaiming Space: Myths, Magic and Richmond High Street

Written by Eleanor Miller for Be Richmond, this article explores how Centre Stage 2026 is transforming Richmond’s high street through culture, placemaking and community-led activation.

Centre Stage returns to Richmond this summer, transforming the town centre into a vibrant cultural playground. With Be Richmond as the key community partner, the festival highlights how culture can revitalise high streets, strengthen identity and reconnect people with place.

Culture at the Heart of the High Street

Across London, town centres are being rethought, and culture is increasingly part of that shift. Centre Stage 2026: Richmond Myths festival is a strong example of how this can work in practice, turning everyday streets into spaces for creativity, performance and shared experience.

Running from 17–19 July, the extended programme builds on last year’s success, expanding both in scale and ambition. What makes it stand out isn’t just the activity itself, but where it happens, right in the heart of the town centre.

Delivered by HemingwayDesign in partnership with Richmond Council and Orange Tree Theatre, and supported by Be Richmond as lead community partner, the festival reflects a growing belief that culture can support both economic vitality and social connection. It’s not just about animation - it’s about rethinking how places are used and who they are for.

Be Richmond’s Role: Connecting Community and Place

As the Business Improvement District (BID) for Richmond, Be Richmond is focused on making the town centre a stronger, more attractive place to spend time. Its involvement in Centre Stage shows how BIDs are evolving - moving beyond traditional business support into shaping the wider experience of place.

As key partner in shaping the festival, Be Richmond helps draw visitors in, boost footfall, create opportunities for local businesses and strengthen Richmond’s sense of identity. That impact is tangible. People stay longer, explore further and engage more deeply with what the high street has to offer.

Just as importantly, it shifts perception. Culture here isn’t something separate from the high street. It’s part of what makes it work.

Reclaiming Space Through Creativity

One of the most compelling aspects of Centre Stage is how it reimagines public space. Streets, squares and overlooked corners become places for storytelling, performance and participation. Even familiar routes take on a different energy.

This year’s Richmond Myths theme plays into that sense of rediscovery - using reinterpreted legends to connect people with the area in a fresh, imaginative way. From riverside performances to workshops and pop-up installations, the programme invites people to see their surroundings differently.

And it works. When space is used in unexpected ways, it opens new possibilities - not just for events, but for how public space might be designed and used longer term.

Supporting a Cultural Ecosystem

What also stands out is the level of collaboration behind the festival. Bringing together cultural organisations, the council, businesses, and community groups takes coordination, but it’s what makes the programme feel relevant and accessible.

For younger audiences in particular, this kind of event can be a meaningful point of access to arts and culture outside traditional venues. That matters. It helps build long-term engagement and a stronger connection to place.

There’s a wider benefit too. By linking cultural activity with local businesses and the high street economy, Centre Stage supports a more resilient and diverse town centre and one that works for different audiences, at different times of day.

A Model for London’s Future

As London continues to evolve, initiatives like Centre Stage offer a useful reference point. They show what can happen when culture is treated as a core part of placemaking rather than a bolt-on.

Be Richmond’s involvement highlights the role that place-based organisations can play in making this happen. By bringing together partners and aligning around a shared vision, they help create places that feel active, distinctive and worth spending time in.

A Stage for What Comes Next

Centre Stage is more than a weekend festival. It offers a glimpse of what town centres could become. Spaces that are open, flexible and shaped as much by experience as by function.

The challenge now is to build on that momentum. Not just through events, but by continuing to prioritise culture within everyday placemaking.

Whether you’re a business, a cultural organisation or a local resident, there’s an opportunity to be part of that shift, get involved, collaborate and help shape a high street where culture isn’t occasional, but built in.