Help us win bid to be the latest borough of culture
Greenwich council is bidding to become the London Borough of Culture (LBoC) and they need YOUR help.
The LBoC award offers the winning borough £1.35million of GLA funding to run a year-long programme of cultural events.
The town hall bid will be a co-created programme of imaginative and exciting activity informed by residents, community groups and cultural organisations.
For more than 500 years, people have been coming to the borough for a variety of reasons, from employment in the armouries and Royal docks of Woolwich, to the thriving tourism industry of today.
Councillor Adel Khaireh, cabinet member for equality, culture and communities, said: “Culture has the power to break down barriers and bring communities together. The diversity of our people and places gives Greenwich a cultural identity like nowhere else in the capital, and our residents, partners and community groups know that better than anyone.
“Our bid will have the people who’ve made Greenwich their home at its heart.
We’re asking, what’s your story? What’s your family’s history within our borough?
“Your heritage and experiences will help us build a bid that truly represents the people and places of Royal Greenwich and inspires people to visit long into the future.”
Council leader Cllr Anthony Okereke said: “Becoming the London Borough of Culture would celebrate the collective identities of residents, boost our arts and culture economy and provide an even richer cultural offering for future generations.
“Its legacy would create jobs, infrastructure and learning and mentoring opportunities for years to come.
“Culture opens our minds to new ideas, and we’re committed to listening to the ideas of our residents, partners and community and arts organisations, so that together we can build an exciting future for culture in our borough.”
If you or a family member have a story to tell, email greenwich.stories@royalgreenwich.gov.uk
You can also post your story to Greenwich Stories, Events and Culture team, Third floor, The Woolwich Centre, 35 Wellington Street, Woolwich, SE18 6HQ. Include your name and contact details.
As well as the title award, there are also three Cultural Impact Awards up for grabs.
These will be in the region of £200,000 for individual projects that take place between 2025 and 2027.
The deadline for bid submission is noon on November 30, and the successful boroughs are expected to be announced in March 2024.
Picture: Sixth form students and Cllr Adel Khaireh at one of two cultural summits, attended by arts and culture groups Picture: Brian Aldrich/Greenwich council