Hounslow Fails To Win Bid To Become London Borough Of Culture 2021
Loses out to Lewisham with Croydon chosen for 2023
The delegation from Hounslow when they made the bid
Hounslow Council has failed in its bid to become the 2021 London Borough of Culture, losing out to Croydon. The Mayor Sadiq Khan, announced today (Feb 11th) that Lewisham has been awarded the title for 2021 with Croydon winning the accolade for 2023.
Hounslow Council tweeted "Congratulations to 'IAmLewisham #LondonBoroughofCulture 2021' today.
Lewisham‘s bid, Cultural Activism, set out plans to inspire local people to take action on climate change. The borough will celebrate its diversity with events which include an artist-led tribute to The Rock Against Racism movement, a large-scale dance performance and a climate change carnival.
Hounslow Council had used the concept of a ‘Culture Superhighway’ in their submission, in a reference to the forthcoming cycle highway 9. The theme was the creation of an unstoppable movement of people, ideas and opportunity across the borough.
Hammersmith & Fulham, Haringey and Sutton receive the Mayor's Cultural Impact Award of £200,000 for grassroots schemes and projects.
Waltham Forest was the first Borough of Culture in 2019 and Brent currently holds the title, and started off its year with a community performance at Wembley Stadium.
The Hounslow delegation during their bid last October
Seven boroughs had bid for the honour with a delegation from Hounslow led by Leader of the Council, Cllr Steve Curran; Mayor of Hounslow, Cllr Tony Louki, and Lead Member for Leisure Services at Hounslow Council, Cllr Samia Chaudhary, making the journey to City Hall last October on board a vintage 1963 Routemaster bus.
Hounslow Council said that it was disappointed that it had lost out.
"The process of preparing our bid and the extensive engagement and collaboration with our cultural sector has given culture in the borough a great boost. Our bright and bold campaign and the rallying cry of #GoHounslow has awakened in many the possibility of connecting our borough through culture. The groundwork for an ambitious new cultural strategy has been laid and this is just the start! We will take stock with our cultural partners, stakeholders and residents and consider how we take forward many of the fantastic ideas in our bid.
Councillor Samia Chaudhary, Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure Services at Hounslow Council said: “While we are disappointed that 2021 will not be Hounslow’s Year of Culture, we warmly congratulate Lewisham and Croydon for their successful bids and wish them great success with their programmes. London is brimming with culture at every turn and each borough has a great story to tell.
“Our very strong bid has helped lay the foundations for many exciting things to come. We are one of London’s fastest growing boroughs and we will embrace and celebrate our wonderful cultural assets, extending opportunity to our talented young people through close collaboration with industry and our vibrant cultural sector."
London Borough of Culture is a GLA-backed initiative to promote culture across the capital which will provide an opportunity for the borough to get an extra £1.35m funding for cultural activity. Hounslow Cabinet had pledged to match funding up to £337,500, plus £67,500 in in-kind support in the event of the bid being successful.
There will not be an opportunity to bid again for some time as the Mayor and advisers decided that awarding thre 2021 and 2023 bids together would allow more time for partnerships, resources and cultural programmes to be developed.
February 11, 2020