Republic Celebrates East London’s Cultural Trailblazers

Republic’s campus is celebrating East London’s cultural trailblazers, from female football star Alex Scott to grime star Kano with a new display of campus art.

Inspirational Figures is the result of a collaboration between the Republic Community and Placemaking Team, campus students, and the local people of Poplar. The project aims to connects today’s generation to a range of East London heroes, all about motivating young people to reach their potential, inspired by achievements of others.

Republic is already home to six learning institutions, and over 15,000 students from an international community, creating a melting pot of diversity. The University of the West of Scotland, City Gateway, Global Banking School, Anglia Ruskin University and York St John University all have homes at Republic.

The new installations comprises a selection of pop-art style portraits of national and local heroes across the huge ground floor windows of the Export and Import Buildings on the campus.

The personalities showcased in the installation, with accompanying motivational quotes include Alex Scott, the female footballer from Poplar, Dreda Say Mitchell, the journalist from an East End council estate, Mark Noble, the footballer who has spent his whole career as the loyal captain of West Ham United, Stepney-born Eastenders actress Barbara Windsor.

Rosie Niblock, Marketing and Communications Manager at Republic said: ‘At Republic, we recognise the impact of representation and local geographies in influencing our futures. The Inspirational Figures project harnesses the power of place-based arts initiatives in creating a sense of empowerment and belonging.

‘We are incredibly pleased with how the finished product has animated the space and brought together a diverse set of people to celebrate, inspire, and be inspired.’