Help

This website is run by Lewisham Council. If you have any questions or need support, please email Cultural.Development@lewisham.gov.uk You might find the answer to your question in the frequently asked questions below.

If you experience any technical issues with the website, such as broken links or problems submitting a form, please contact us at the email above.

We aim to make this website accessible to everyone. If you need information in a different format or have suggestions for improving accessibility, please let us know.

All submissions are reviewed before being published. Lewisham Council reserves the right to remove content that does not meet our community guidelines.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is We Are Lewisham?

We Are Lewisham is a free online platform that showcases creative and cultural activities and organisations across the borough. It is designed to help promote public-facing arts and cultural events, whether one-off or regular, including performances, exhibitions, workshops, festivals, and more.

I know about an arts or cultural organisation or event in Lewisham, but I can’t see it on the website, why not?

The We Are Lewisham website relies on organisations and event organisers to upload their own listings. If you know of a great arts or cultural organisation or event that isn’t featured, we encourage you to contact them and let them know about the platform. The more organisations use the site, the better it will be for everyone in Lewisham to discover what’s happening across the borough. If you do not have a contact for that organisation email culturaldevelopment@lewisham.gov.uk and we will reach out to them.

Can I use the website without registering?
Yes! The website is open to everyone to browse events and explore Lewisham’s arts and cultural organisations. Registration is only required if you want to list an event or create a profile.

Who can promote their organisation or events on the website?

Anyone organising public facing arts or cultural events in Lewisham can register and add their events to the We Are Lewisham website. However, only arts and cultural organisations, community groups and creative businesses can create a profile. These profiles form a directory of arts and cultural organisations in the borough. Individual creatives and freelancers are welcome to register to add public-facing cultural events, but they cannot create a profile. A dedicated directory for creatives in Lewisham already exists on the Shapes Lewisham website https://www.shapeslewisham.co.uk/  you can also see our Support for Creatives page for further opportunities and guidance Support For Creatives — We Are Lewisham

Why should I promote my events/organisation on the We Are Lewisham Website?

• Free promotion to Lewisham residents and London-wide audiences.
• Inclusion in Lewisham Council’s newsletters, social media, and print materials.
• Increased visibility and footfall for your events.
• Connection to borough-wide cultural programming.

How do I register?

To begin, register as a content creator by visiting:
https://wearelewisham.cowsystems.com/register/
Once registered, you can click ‘Add event/ manage events’ to add an event. If you are an organisation you can click ‘create profile’ to create a profile. 

What is the difference between listing an organisation and an event?
When you list an organisation, you are creating a profile that becomes part of a permanent directory of arts and cultural organisations in Lewisham. Events, on the other hand, are time specific listings and will automatically be removed from the site once they have ended.

Are there any rules for registering an event?
To ensure your event is eligible for listing on the We Are Lewisham website, please make sure it meets the following criteria:

• Open to the Community: Events must be accessible to the wider public and not restricted to closed groups (e.g. internal school-only events).
• Located in Lewisham: Events must take place within the borough of Lewisham.
• Culturally Relevant: We welcome events that contribute to the borough’s creative, cultural, or community life.
• Non-Religious Specific: We do not list events that are primarily religious in nature or intended for faith-based audiences only.
• Select at Least One Category: You must choose at least one relevant category when submitting your event.
• Include at Least One Image: A photo or promotional image is required to accompany your listing.

You can add both one off events and regular activities.

How do I upload an event?
After registering, go to the “Manage Events” section and select “Create Event.” Fill in the required details and submit. Please remember to add at least one image. Events will be reviewed before being published.

What happens after I submit my profile or event?
Submissions are moderated by the Lewisham Culture Team who will aim to approve within 5 working days. You may be contacted if edits are needed. Once approved, your content will appear on the website.

Do you need to have a formal organisation to list an event?
No, you do not. We list events organised by residents or the community, provided they are open to the public.  Private events e.g. a school event that is only open to the students of that school would not qualify.

Can I edit my information once submitted?
Absolutely. If event details change or you want to update information on your organisation profile you can do so by logging in to your account and clicking into your event or profile.

What should I do if I can’t see the category I need?
If you don’t see a category that suits your organisation, or you believe a key category is missing, please get in touch at wearelewishamwebsite@gmail.com  with your suggestion. The We Are Lewisham team will review all requests, and if we feel the category would benefit a range of organisations, we’ll look to add it to the site

What type of image file can I upload?
The site will only accept JPEG or PNG files and please adhere to the size specifications listed of minimum 1366 x 569 pixels.

Is there a limit on how many search words I can input?
There is a 200-character limit.

Who can I contact for help with the website?
If you need support with registration or uploading content, email:
wearelewishamwebsite@gmail.com and Cultural.Development@lewisham.gov.uk
A member of the team will be happy to assist you.

Do I have to pay to list and event or organisation?
No. Listing an event or organisation is completely free.

Is there a limit on how many events I can list?
No. You can list as many events as you have.

Why can’t I see my event?
This could be for several reasons:

• If you have just submitted an event, your form may not be viewed by a moderator and approved yet. We are currently approving forms once a week.
• You submission might have been rejected. When a submission is rejected, you will receive an email with an explanation of the reason for rejection. Typically, this occurs when some required fields have not been completed, if you have not included an image, or if there are a large number of spelling or grammatical errors in your listing. It could also be that the event you have submitted does not meet our criteria (see FAQ point 8)
• If your event date is passed the event will automatically be deleted and therefore you will no longer see the listing.