Haringey Council has officially accepted a significant grant from the Greater London Authority (GLA) to fund the borough's London Borough of Culture 2027 programme, which will include the Liberty Festival, a celebration of D/deaf and disabled artists.

The decision, made by Councillor Emily Arkell, Cabinet Member for Culture & Leisure, at a signing meeting on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, greenlights the acceptance of £2,165,000 in funding. This grant, a combination of contributions from the GLA and Arts Council England, will support a comprehensive year-long cultural programme designed to showcase Haringey's diverse heritage and its Rebel Borough theme.

The Rebel Borough theme will be explored by celebrating Haringey's working-class heritage, strong history of grassroots changemakers and everyday rebels. Historically, Haringey has played an important role in battling discrimination and celebrating equality, being at the forefront of fights for rights such as standing against Section 28 and forming the UK's first Lesbian and Gay Unit, and being the first borough in Europe to elect a Black council leader, Bernie Grant.

The Liberty Festival, a key component of the 2027 programme, will be curated by renowned disabled artist Bobby Baker. It is set to feature a radical programme with a focus on mental health and empowerment. This radical programme is described as a radical, witty and bold programme, curated by renowned local disabled artist Bobby Baker and a group of subversive D/deaf, disabled and neurodivergent artists, comedians, makers and activists across the borough. It will focus on mental health and power with a throughline of celebration, hope, survival and how art helps communicate knowledge, experience and power. Empowerment in this context entails providing a balance between autonomy and dependence - contributing humour, joy and wisdom.

The overall London Borough of Culture 2027 initiative will encompass over 500 events, ranging from large-scale spectacles to community-focused activities and commissions from local artists. The programme will include community events rooted in Haringey and created by residents. There will be 30+ commissions and presentations of medium to smaller scale projects / events encompassing all genres of art that celebrate the diversity, heritage and rebellious DNA of Haringey across all 21 wards. Additionally, a wide range of projects developed and delivered by local grassroots artists, cultural and other organisations and communities will be enabled by a significant community grants programme, ensuring the funding reaches right through to the grassroots of our communities and to where it can have most direct impact. Notable planned events include an opening event in partnership with Alexandra Palace, a closing event at Spurs Stadium, and exhibitions such as War Inna Babylon and Return of the Rudeboy.

Councillor Arkell resolved to approve the grant acceptance, highlighting its alignment with the Council's Arts and Culture Strategy 2024-28. The funding is crucial for realising Haringey's ambitious cultural plans, which aim to foster community cohesion, create pathways into creative careers, and increase cultural accessibility across the borough.

Beyond community cohesion and creative pathways, the anticipated long-term impacts include increased accessibility, health and wellbeing, with 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. The programme aims for 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. Furthermore, there is an ambition to increase cultural spaces driven by a shared ambition between the council and the creative industries and individuals. The initiative will also create and maintain a vibrant, representative community of volunteers ready to support borough-wide activity (including 2028 EUROs tournament). The grant enables the council to leverage further additional external funding and investment into the borough to support residents and communities.

The key performance indicators and outcomes for the London Borough of Culture 2027 programme include: accessibility, creative pathways, cohesion, coherence, increased opportunities, artists staying in the borough, more infrastructure, and the development of Haringey Hosts. These metrics aim to ensure 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 grant breakdown includes £1,350,000 from the GLA 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. Arts Council England is contributing £350,000 towards the London Borough of Culture and £145,000 towards the Liberty Festival.

The council is also providing match funding and in-kind support. The Haringey Culture Collective, a council-controlled charity established to deliver the programme, will be responsible for its implementation. While independent, the council will retain control over the charity through sole membership and board appointment rights. Internal governance structures have been set up to ensure that while delivery sits with the charity, the Council remains able to maintain oversight as it retains accountability for meeting its commitments under the Grant Agreement. The Haringey Culture Collective is actively seeking additional investment.

The report also detailed the programme's commitment to equality, with a specific focus on marginalised communities and young people.

Read the Public reports pack for more details. The GLA Grant Funding Agreement outlines the specifics of the funding. The decision was made following the Cabinet Member Signing meeting on 17th March 2026.