The strategy seeks to build strong and meaningful partnerships with local communities and wider stakeholders, so that people who live in, work in and visit the borough, can all benefit from a vibrant, cultural and creative Haringey.
Approved by Cabinet last night (15 October 2024) the strategy sets out how the council will work with cultural organisations and residents over the next five years. It creates a strategic direction for all council services to contribute to the cultural life of the borough, from libraries and youth centres to housing estates and health and wellbeing services.
The blueprint will guide the borough as it celebrates diversity, cultivates creativity and fosters a sense of belonging for all of the communities. It will help sow the seeds of a lasting cultural and creative legacy that extends way beyond the London Borough of Culture Year in 2027.
Cllr Emily Arkell, Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure, said:
“Haringey is a unique melting pot of people, histories and voices. Arts and culture play a key role in bringing us together and telling our shared story – as well as being increasingly important to our borough’s economy.
“This strategy will support us to grow the borough’s cultural sphere and ensure that everyone in the borough is part of shaping its future. In particular, we want to ensure that our young people have the skills and opportunities to be part of our blossoming creative sector.
“Our year as London Borough of Culture will mark the culmination of many of the ambitious aims outlined in this strategy. Work is already going on behind the scenes to prepare for this and I can’t wait to share more details with residents in the coming months.
“This is a great example of our commitment to working together with our residents, and I’d like to thank everyone who helped us to outline this shared vision for culture in Haringey. In particular I’d like to pay tribute to my predecessor, the late Cllr Julie Davies, who was a passionate advocate for arts, culture and education in the borough and who initiated the work to develop this strategy.”
Haringey’s young people are set to benefit through the development of career pathways, as well as work to identify where culture and sport can crossover to support health, wellbeing, training and opportunities, and continuation of work through the Haringey Music Service to give children and young people consistent access to high quality music provision.
The community played a key role in developing the strategy through an extensive engagement process which included an online survey, an immersive theatre production, and last year’s Culture Summit at Hornsey Library.
Work on the strategy was set in motion by the late Cllr Julie Davies, who served as Cabinet Member for Communities and Civic Life before sadly passing away last year.
Read the full Arts & Culture Strategy 2024-2028 here: https://www.minutes.haringey.gov.uk/documents/s147854/071024%20Arts%20and%20Culture%20Strategy%20FINAL.docx_Monday%201.pdf
Find out more about our London Borough of Culture 2027 award, and sign up for updates here: www.haringey.gov.uk/lboc27
