We are a vibrant, dynamic and diverse borough. We are a borough that has a wealth of rich and diverse heritage. We are a rebel borough.
I hope to speak for everyone when I say how much pride and honour it was for the Mayor of London to announce this week that Haringey has been successful in our bid to be the London Borough of Culture for 2027.
Haringey is the rebel borough and we will never give up. Our Borough of Culture Year will give a platform and voice to our many diverse communities, too often marginalised, discriminated against and overlooked.
We want to reach every part of the borough and provide a significant boost to Haringey’s blossoming creative sector, and support all of our residents to access world-class cultural experiences.
As well as using high-profile cultural spaces – including Alexandra Palace, the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Bernie Grant Arts Centre, Jacksons Lane and Bruce Castle Museum – Haringey’s Borough of Culture programme will bring arts and culture to the heart of local communities, with community-curated events taking place in all 21 wards.
I understand that we are experiencing challenging times, especially with budget constraints. However, during these times, initiatives like the Borough of Culture become even more vital. It provides us as a community, with something positive and hopeful to look forward to – a beacon of optimism amidst uncertainty.
This would not have been possible without the incredible support we had from our borough’s cultural organisations to the many, many residents who have expressed such enthusiasm and support for the project.
I also want to thank Tottenham Hotspur Football Club for their immense support, which is particularly valuable as our year as Borough of Culture will also see us preparing to host matches as part of UEFA Euro 2028.
Our Borough of Culture year will provide a fantastic cultural platform and lead-up to the tournament, creating volunteers and buzz as we prepare to welcome the world to our city.
The council estimates that the programme will involve around 600 local artists and partners and see around 300,000 people participating in cultural activities.
Our bid is a product of shared ideas, creativity and culture, which is already bubbling away across our borough – in our nine new National Portfolio Organisations, our Grade I listed museum Bruce Castle, our libraries, and our parks, pubs, schools and community centres.
I want to say a special thank you to Sadiq Khan and his team for putting their faith in Haringey. We are the rebel borough and we will deliver for London.
- Cllr Peray Ahmet is leader of Haringey Council.
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