Cheers could be heard from a packed auditorium as Redbridge launched its bid to become the London Borough of Culture.
Aptly launched from Redbridge Drama Centre, Churchfields, South Woodford, councillors, community groups and performers joined forces to announce the campaign.
The Borough of Culture Award is organised by the Mayor of London and the prize is £1million to stage a programme of world class events and an opportunity to put arts, heritage and culture at the heart of Redbridge’s future.
London’s leading cultural institutions – including Tate, Shakespeare’s Globe, London Mela and Film London – have also said they will partner on projects with the winning borough.
Council leader Cllr Jas Athwal, said Redbridge is a “treasure trove” of hidden stories and cultural gems and there’s already huge local support for the bid
“This is a huge opportunity for Redbridge, it’s a chance to shine a spotlight on the borough, a chance to tell our stories and celebrate our special places.
“A chance to show that the sum of our diverse communities is so much greater than its parts.
“It’s a unique opportunity to show London and the world – this is Redbridge.”
With the submission deadline of December 1 approaching fast, the race is on to gather residents’ ideas and build a bid that will capture the judges’ imaginations and win the contest.
Community groups and individual residents can submit their ideas for Redbridge’s bid to be London Borough of Culture online and “connect” with the bid via social media.
Cllr Athwal encouraged residents to upload selfies to the campaign picture mosaic.
He added: “I think people can see that this is an opportunity to do something special and create a legacy of culture at the heart of our borough’s future.”
Iain Varah, chief executive of Vision Redbridge Culture & Leisure, the council’s culture arm, said Redbridge “is in it to win it”.
“We are working with organisations across the borough to make sure communities are at the centre of the bid’s design and delivery,” he said.
The winner will be announced in February 2018.
An additional £600,000 is available for up to six boroughs for exemplary projects.
Visit: thisisredbridge.org
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