Haringey Council has officially accepted a substantial grant of £2,165,000 from the Greater London Authority (GLA) to fund its ambitious London Borough of Culture 2027 programme, alongside the Liberty Festival. The decision, approved by Councillor Emily Arkell, Cabinet Member for Culture & Leisure, will enable the borough to present a year-long cultural celebration themed around its Rebel Borough identity.

The Rebel Borough theme is designed to celebrate Haringey's working-class heritage, strong history of grassroots changemakers, and everyday rebels, highlighting its role in battling discrimination and celebrating equality. This identity will be brought to life through over 500 planned events, including large-scale spectacles, community-focused activities, and commissions for local artists. Notable exhibitions planned include War Inna Babylon and Return of the Rudeboy.

The Liberty Festival, dedicated to celebrating D/deaf and disabled artists, will be curated by Bobby Baker. Under the Rebel Borough theme, it will feature a radical programme focusing on mental health and empowerment, exploring themes of celebration, hope, survival, and how art communicates knowledge, experience, and power. Planned programming includes Box of Frogs 2 by Mish Weaver, exploring neurodivergence; a Public Lightbox Exhibition on mental health and Haringey's rebellious spirit; a light sculpture by Frankie Boyle; and Rebel Joy Day, a disabled takeover to celebrate the talents, skills and capabilities of disabled people, through radical hilarity, subversion and joy. The festival also aims to embed accessibility into the council's long-term strategy, modelling best practice.

The funding, which also includes contributions from Arts Council England, will support a wide range of activities. Large-scale events are planned, such as an opening event in partnership with Alexandra Palace and a closing event at Spurs Stadium. The grant breakdown includes £1,350,000 for the London Borough of Culture, £70,000 for the Liberty R&D programme, £75,000 for the Liberty Festival, and £175,000 for the Youth programme, alongside £350,000 from Arts Council England for the Borough of Culture and £145,000 for the Liberty Festival.

Crucially, the programme includes specific plans for pathways for young people into creative careers, with a particular focus on marginalized young people, including care leavers, youth justice, isolated, and LGBTQI+ youth. These plans involve activities in 63 educational settings and a dedicated Youth Festival. Young people will participate in governance and performances, with a family programme featuring a new commission about pirate radio. Training opportunities are being established in partnership with the National Theatre and Bernie Grant Arts Centre. The Disrupt programme specifically aims to provide training, development, and creative participation experiences for diverse young Londoners, with aspirations for it to continue beyond 2027. Expected outcomes include increased diversity of potential cultural leaders, enhanced skills for working with others, recognition of potential to make change, and increased opportunities for joy and wellbeing through culture. Expected outputs include paid development positions for young people in producing, project management, marketing, and budgeting, intensive emerging practitioner training, and music lessons and learning across educational settings. Delivery partners include Haringey Music Service, Wigmore Hall, National Theatre, Drumshed (Broadwick Live), University of West London, Identify School of Acting (IDSA), Looks Like Me Casting, and Levile, alongside teams across Haringey Council, local schools, youth forums/groups, and young people's organisations.

Councillor Arkell formally approved the acceptance of the grant, delegating the final signing of the Grant Agreement to the Corporate Director of Culture, Strategy & Communities. The Haringey Culture Collective, a council-controlled charity established to deliver the programme, will operate with independent delivery but with the council retaining control through sole membership and board appointment rights. Internal governance structures are in place to ensure council oversight and accountability for meeting commitments under the Grant Agreement.

This funding is crucial for realising Haringey's cultural vision, aligning with the council's Arts and Culture Strategy 2024-28. The programme aims to amplify community voices and foster connections between diverse cultures.

The success and legacy of the programme will be measured against several key objectives. In terms of accessibility, the aim is to put lived experience and accessibility at the heart of planning, delivery and curation leading to a legacy of accessibility, health and wellbeing for audiences, artists and volunteers and increased LGBTQ+ representation and visibility throughout the borough. For creative pathways, the goal is increased skills and experience generated in the borough and a greater understanding of the breadth of creative roles available with clear routes to opportunities. Community cohesion will be fostered by creating a council who listen, that are nurturing and supportive of its existing and emerging creative talent and a diaspora of communities who feel reflected in the cultural offerings of Haringey. The programme also seeks coherence by ensuring a joined-up council supportive of its cultural aims and ambitions, that recognises the cultural value of the borough while increasing visitors and investment. Furthermore, the programme aims for increased opportunities through more paid opportunities to make, create and deliver culture, and to ensure Haringey remains a place where artists feel supported and understood and who can live and work and thrive here. The development of more infrastructure is also a goal, aiming to increase of cultural spaces driven by a shared ambition between the council and the creative industries and individuals. Finally, the Haringey Hosts initiative seeks to create and maintain a vibrant, representative community of volunteers ready to support borough-wide activity (including 2028 EUROs tournament).

The council is also providing match funding and in-kind support, with the Haringey Culture Collective actively seeking additional investment. The report also detailed extensive community and youth engagement plans. See the Public reports pack for more details.