London,
24
July
2017
|
15:11
Europe/London

Camden bids to become London Borough of Culture

Camden Council is consulting with residents, businesses and organisations to assist with its bid to become the London Borough of Culture in 2019/20.

The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has launched the London Borough of Culture programme, inviting all London boroughs to bid for £1.1 million in funding to deliver high quality cultural activities. The winner will be crowned London Borough of Culture for a year.

Councillor Jonathan Simpson, Cabinet Member for Culture and the Voluntary Sector at Camden Council, said: “We take great pride in supporting all cultural and community activities across the borough. Our Annual Programme, is a great example of this – we are making sure all our residents can come together and enjoy all that Camden has to offer during the summer months.

“If Camden were successful in its bid, this would vastly increase our ability to stage quality activities that people would want to attend, across the spectrum.”

The council is already working in partnership with many of the borough’s unique cultural venues, to develop a strong bid that showcases Camden’s unique culture and diverse communities.

Councillor Simpson continued: “We value the thoughts and opinions of all of our residents and visitors. This is why we would like you to tweet @lovecamden with your favourite Camden Cultural activity, organisations or project with #camdeninspired. We will be releasing further details on how to get more involved in the coming months.

“Culture is good for communities and good for business. As London Borough of Culture we would be able to build even stronger partnerships across the borough and encourage more of our residents and visitors to get involved in everything Camden has to offer.”

Marcus Davey OBE, Chief Executive and Artistic Director of the Roundhouse said: “The Roundhouse is a passionate supporter of Camden’s bid to be the London Borough of Culture.

“We create our work to transform the lives of young people, our audiences and our community. We believe in the power of the arts to make lives more meaningful, to offer a pathway to a more fulfilling future and to be a gateway to excellent employment opportunities. Included in Camden are an extraordinary diverse range of people, arts venues and cultural institutions.

“Our hope at the Roundhouse is that in winning the London Borough of Culture we will use our glorious borough as the canvass to paint our future, enable the voice of young people to be heard through the arts and thereby connect communities and build aspiration for all people.”

Raymond Simonson Chief Executive, JW3 said: “As CEO of JW3, the only Jewish Community Centre and arts & culture venue of its type in the UK, I know how much we benefit from basing this new cultural institution in the Borough of Camden.

“We run a year round programme of events, activities, performances and workshops, the diversity of which reflects the diversity of the local community. Our services are accessed by the widest range of people imaginable, from all backgrounds and walks of life, reflecting the vibrancy of the Borough.

“Whether we’re hosting Gefiltefest, Europe’s largest celebration of Jewish food; or curating Sacred Voices, our interfaith festival of music, I’m always amazed by the variety and diversity of the audiences from across Camden and beyond that come to participate, engage in new cultural experiences, break down barriers, and ultimately strengthen community.

“Camden has become one of the great cultural capitals of Europe, and we are proud to be part of that local ecosystem, working with our partners across the borough to transform the cultural landscape and impact on society well beyond the borders of the borough.”

Find out more about culture in Camden and the borough's Annual Programme on the Love Camden website