Haringey Seeks Diverse Trustees for London Borough of Culture 2027

Haringey Council has appointed two new trustees to the board of the Haringey Culture Collective (HCC), the organisation tasked with delivering the London Borough of Culture 2027 programme. The appointments aim to bolster the board's expertise and ensure diverse representation ahead of the major cultural event.

Councillor Peray Ahmet, Leader of the Council, approved the appointments of Emete Kirton and Marcus Davey, following recommendations from the existing HCC Board of Trustees. The decision was made on April 13, 2026, as detailed in the Appointment of New Trustees for Haringey Culture Collective.

Emete Kirton, an Art Director and Partner at HATO Studio and HATO Press, brings strategic design experience and a proven track record in inclusive cultural projects. As a resident of N17, her background across fashion, food, design, and community-led creative ecosystems provides substantial benefit to the Board's skills profile. Her experience will be leveraged to ensure the 2027 programme is truly inclusive, alongside the relevant experience in inclusive cultural practice and youth-focused creative development brought by the recommended trustees, strengthening the Board's ability to make decisions informed by the needs of diverse communities.

Marcus Davey, the former Chief Executive and Artistic Director at the Roundhouse, brings over 25 years of senior cultural leadership and expertise in large-scale creative governance. He has a long-standing connection to Haringey, having lived in the borough for many years and engaged with its music and youth arts services.

These appointments are part of an ongoing effort to expand the HCC Board, which was initially formed with five trustees. A skills audit, carried out by the existing Trustees, identified gaps in areas such as cultural leadership, community representation, and specialist expertise. ¹

In addition to these targeted appointments, an open recruitment process has been initiated to find up to two further trustees. This process aims to ensure transparency and representation, with priority areas including legal and financial expertise, as well as community representation from under-represented groups such as Latine, Black British/African/Caribbean, Turkish/Kurdish heritage, LGBTQI+, disabled residents, and local residents more broadly. The open call for recruitment closes on April 20, 2026, with recommended candidates to be presented for Council approval in May 2026.

Once the recruitment is complete, the Haringey Culture Collective (HCC) Board will consist of a minimum of seven trustees and a maximum of nine trustees. This expansion is intended to enhance the board's capacity to deliver the London Borough of Culture 2027 programme.

The appointments support the Council's strategic aims under Theme 7 of the Corporate Delivery Plan 2024-2026: a Culturally Rich Borough, by expanding cultural opportunities, strengthening community engagement, and delivering the London Borough of Culture 2027 as a flagship inclusive programme.