Councillor Emily Arkell, Cabinet Member for Culture & Leisure, approved the acceptance of a significant grant from the Greater London Authority (GLA) to fund the delivery of the London Borough of Culture 2027 and the Liberty Festival. This decision will enable Haringey to showcase its diverse cultures and heritage through a year-long programme of events.

Acceptance of GLA Grant for London Borough of Culture 2027

The primary focus of the meeting was the approval of the acceptance of a grant totalling £2,165,000 from the Greater London Authority (GLA) for the delivery of the London Borough of Culture 2027 and the Liberty Festival. This grant, which also includes funding from Arts Council England, is crucial for realising Haringey's ambitious cultural programme.

The decision to accept the grant was made to align with the council's commitment, as outlined in its adopted Arts and Culture Strategy 2024-28, to put Culture at the Heart of Everything We Do. Refusing the grant would have been contrary to this strategy and would have damaged the council's reputation, as it would mean retracting commitments made in the winning bid for the London Borough of Culture title.

The programme, themed Rebel Borough, aims to celebrate Haringey's working-class heritage, its history of grassroots changemakers, and its role in combating discrimination and promoting equality. The funding will support over 500 events, including major spectacles, community-focused activities, and commissions across all 21 wards. Notable events planned include an opening event in partnership with Alexandra Palace, a closing celebration at Spurs Stadium, and exhibitions such as War Inna Babylon and Return of the Rudeboy.

A significant portion of the grant, £70,000, is specifically allocated to the Liberty Festival, which is the Mayor of London's D/deaf & disabled celebration. This festival will feature a radical programme curated by disabled artists, focusing on themes of mental health, power, and celebration.

The grant agreement is currently being finalised through GLA governance. To expedite the process, Councillor Arkell resolved to delegate the final sign-off of the Grant Agreement to the Corporate Director of Culture, Strategy & Communities. The total grant sum of £2,165,000 is broken down as follows: £1,350,000 from the GLA for London Borough of Culture, £70,000 from the GLA for Liberty R&D, £75,000 from the GLA for Liberty Festival, £175,000 from the GLA for the Youth programme, £350,000 from Arts Council England for London Borough of Culture, and £145,000 from Arts Council England for Liberty Festival.

The council is also contributing match funding and in-kind support, and the Haringey Culture Collective, a council-controlled charity established to deliver the programme, is actively fundraising for additional investment. The report highlighted that the Haringey Culture Collective has already secured £250,000 from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, £20,000 from Art Fund, and £60,000 from Wembley Community Foundation.

The decision was supported by the statutory officers, with the Finance department noting the necessity of the grant for programme delivery and the ability to leverage further external funding. The Legal and Governance department confirmed the recommendations were in line with the council's Contract Standing Orders and relevant legislation. The Equality section of the report emphasised how the programme's objectives and target groups align with the Public Sector Equality Duty under the Equality Act 2010, aiming to advance equality of opportunity and foster good relations between people with protected characteristics.

The meeting also noted the council's policy on filming at meetings.