Haringey is a borough that fizzes with culture, opportunity and possibility.
It was precisely Haringey’s rich cultural diversity and our excitement about the untapped potential of this amazing borough that drew us to our newly-created roles as joint assistant directors of culture and creativity for Haringey Council.
We were really thrilled earlier this year to be named ‘London Borough of Culture’ for 2027. Our bid – named ‘Rebel Borough’ – focuses on our unique history as a borough of everyday radicals and change-makers, from electing Europe’s first Black council leader to fighting for equality for our LGBTQ+ residents and being a hotbed of rebellious music and art.
This is our opportunity to platform and share the stories, ideas, identities and voices of our community. With that comes the responsibility to ensure that, wherever possible, all of us in Haringey are able to experience, participate in, shape and own a programme that explores who and what Haringey has meant to people and who we are now. We’re so proud to have been able to help bring this opportunity into the borough and are incredibly grateful to all that have been involved so far.
We plan to amplify the extraordinary creativity within Haringey, to inspire creative participation across the borough and help connect our communities to a rich cultural offer. We want to showcase to the world our brilliant but often hidden creative talents, and to help deliver long-term change and development for Haringey.
Haringey is a place where grassroots culture is thriving, from our libraries to our parks, and where global stars perform, from Beyonce to Cardi B. Last year saw huge Windrush celebrations and the 150th anniversary of Alexandra Palace, while some of our biggest home-grown names like Adele and Skepta were playing to the world.
Our streets are buzzing with culture, from record stores to street art, from Nigerian tapas to roller discos. Culture and community is in our DNA. Above all, it’s the people that really define Haringey, and with our strong history of activism, it’s the people, both past and present, who give this borough its unique ‘Rebel Borough’ identity.
With Tottenham Hotspur Stadium also announced as a host venue for the Euro 2028 football tournament, it’s an exciting time for Haringey. Our year as London Borough of Culture will give us the chance to maximise the attention we will receive and take our borough to the next level.
We know from our hugely diverse communities in Haringey that they not only want to share and celebrate their own distinctive cultural heritage, but are equally keen to discover and understand the identity of their neighbours. We also recognise the transformative effect and positive impact that arts and culture can have on our communities, given the right support and access.
Participation and engagement can increase wellbeing, help reduce inequalities and bring our communities together. Our London Borough of Culture year is a perfect opportunity to amplify so much of what already exists, as well as to create new opportunities for participation engagement, and to showcase our unique cultural offer. Alongside planned flagship closing and opening events at Alexandra Palace and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, a key objective is to ensure that everybody in the borough has the opportunity to participate and engage.
Music is a golden thread running through our plans for the year. We want to build on the brilliant work of Haringey Music Service, and get as many children and young people as possible singing and playing musical instruments. We also want to get as many adults as possible singing, by collaborating with our established youth and community choirs – including, for example, our reggae and gospel choirs and a 50-strong Turkish and Kurdish women’s choir.
Later this year there will be a more opportunities for residents and creatives to get involved in the planning of our London Borough of Culture year, but in the meantime, we encourage people to visit our website where you can sign up to be kept up to date.
We look forward to working with all of our communities to put on a unique year of culture and creativity, celebrating everything that is great about our ‘Rebel Borough’.
This article first appeared in the Haringey Community Press.
