Wandsworth and Haringey named as winners of the Mayor’s London Borough of Culture for 2025 and 2027

• • Wandsworth will be London Borough of Culture for 2025 and Haringey will be London Borough of Culture for 2027 
  • Each borough will deliver a year of events and activities, boosting jobs, the local economy and opportunities for young people
  • Barnet, Merton and Greenwich are named Cultural Impact Awards winners

  

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has today (Monday 11 March 2024) announced that Wandsworth and Haringey are the winners of his flagship London Borough of Culture for 2025 and 2027.  

  

Each borough will receive £1.35m to deliver a year of creative and cultural activities, providing a wide range of constructive opportunities for young people as well as access to new training and jobs, while celebrating local communities and showcasing London’s diversity.

 

The Mayor created the London Borough of Culture award in June 2017, inspired by the UK City and European Capital of Culture programmes. It has been a game-changer for culture in the capital, with Waltham Forest, Brent, Lewisham and Croydon all holding hugely successful year-long programmes helping to inspire young people and communities. To date, it has:

 

• Provided more than 22,600 development, employment and leadership opportunities for young people.

 

• Involved 419 schools in 12 boroughs, 2200 artistic partners and 3986 volunteers.

 

• Leveraged more than £18.8 million in funding for culture, as well as supporting work by Deaf, disabled and neurodiverse artists through Liberty Festival. 

 

Wandsworth will embark on their year in 2025 focusing on the positive transformation culture and heritage can have on people’s health and resilience with a wide range of events and activities. In 2027, Haringey will take the helm, with a series of large-scale events and grassroots gatherings to showcase local and community talent.   

 

Both boroughs will receive £140,000 value in kind promotion on Visit London channels to help attract domestic and international visitors.

  

The London boroughs of Barnet, Merton and Greenwich were named as Cultural Impact Award winners, and they will receive up to £200,000 to deliver smaller scale creative projects within their communities.  

    

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “I am thrilled to be announcing the London Borough of Culture for 2025 and 2027. This prestigious award has become a cornerstone in the capital’s calendar, using the power of culture to unite communities, transform young people’s lives and boost the local economy. Cultural programmes like the London Borough of Culture form a crucial part of our work to provide positive opportunities for young people, who have seen youth clubs taken away from them due to more than a decade of Government cuts. We’ve seen the difference that it’s made in Waltham Forest, Brent, Lewisham and Croydon, and I’m excited to see Wandsworth and Haringey’s fantastic ideas come to life as we build a better London for all.”  

  

Deputy Mayor for Culture and the Creative Industries, said: “Culture plays a vital role in bringing people from all backgrounds together and our London Borough of culture is an invitation for local communities to share and showcase their creativity. we know there is so much talent across the capital, it just needs a chance to shine.  Wandsworth and Haringey have two very different and equally exciting years planned, which celebrate their rich culture and heritage, it’s going to be a feast for all our senses and an amazing legacy for future generations.” 

 

Laura Citron, CEO of London & Partners, which runs Visit London, said: “London is one of most diverse cities in Europe, and each neighbourhood has a unique, cultural offer that makes up the overall experience for visitors in the city. As part of our Tourism Vision for 2030, we want visitors to stay longer and see more of London, allowing them to become more immersed in the city’s culture. The Borough of Culture scheme is a fantastic opportunity for a part of London to really shine, and showcase what it has to offer both visitors and Londoners.”

 

Simon Hogg, Leader of Wandsworth Council, said: “Wandsworth is a fantastic place to live. Our strong, diverse communities represent the best of modern Britain. Our year as London Borough of Culture will supercharge our already vibrant, diverse sector made up of world class institutions and grassroots talent.

 

“A massive thank you to the hundreds of community organisations, creative venues, schools, businesses and residents of all ages who helped shape our bid. This is brilliant news for our borough.

 

“As a result of the Mayor’s funding, we’re going to deliver a year to remember – using the power of culture to transform lives, connect people and improve wellbeing, never more important than now.”

 

Cllr Peray Ahmet, Leader of Haringey Council, said: “We are delighted to have been successful in our bid to be London Borough of Culture with a focus on Haringey’s rich and diverse heritage as a ‘rebel borough’. We look forward to using this fantastic opportunity to celebrate our radical heritage and the vibrant, dynamic and diverse place we are today.

 

“I’d like to thank Sadiq, but also everyone who has helped make our bid a success, from our borough’s cultural organisations to the many, many residents who have expressed such enthusiasm and support for the project. We would especially like to thank Tottenham Hotspur Football Club for their immense support, which is particularly valuable as our year as London Borough of Culture will also see us preparing for our borough to host matches as part of UEFA Euro 2028.

 

“We look forward to welcoming London and the world to Haringey and delivering a year of culture which resonates with all of our diverse communities.”