Haringey’s unique creative scene is set to be transformed as the council takes significant steps to put culture and creativity at the front and centre of its work.
60 people gathered at Hornsey Library this week to work together towards a vision for what culture means in the borough. The Haringey Culture Summit brought leaders from Haringey’s diverse cultural scene together with officers from departments across the council for inspiring discussions on the future of the arts and culture sector in Haringey.
Major steps have already begun with the exciting appointment of two influential figures in the arts world. Yamin Choudury and Kenneth Olumuyiwa Tharp have been brought in as the borough’s new Assistant Directors for Culture and Creativity to bring crucial expertise and experience to drive forward Haringey’s ambitions in this space.
Yamin joins from the Hackney Empire Theatre where he serves as Joint CEO and Artistic Director. He is Haringey born and bred, having grown up in the East of the borough and previously led the Youth Theatre and Outreach programmes at Haringey Shed.
Kenneth pursued a 25-year career as a professional dance artist and has since gone on to be Chief Executive of The Place, a major centre for contemporary dance development in Camden, as well as more recently, Director of The Africa Centre in Southwark and a Creative Consultant.
The appointment of these new senior officers reflects the council’s renewed ambition for the borough’s cultural scene. It is also the most senior hire that the council has made on a job share basis, highlighting the local authority’s flexible and innovative approach to recruitment.
Cllr Emily Arkell, Cabinet Member for Culture, Communities and Leisure, said:
“It was brilliant to meet with representatives from Haringey’s thriving cultural sector at the Culture Summit this week. This was an important step in working towards our new Culture Strategy, which will underline our renewed ambition to make Haringey a borough where culture and creativity is front and centre in everything that we do.
“We are determined to develop a strategy that celebrates our rich cultural heritage of radicalism and diverse communities, as well as looking forward to how we can build on this success and future-proof Haringey’s reputation as a place for creatives and the creative industry to live, work and thrive.
“It’s also great to be able to announce the appointment of Yamin Choudury and Kenneth Tharp as our new Assistant Directors for Culture and Creativity. Yamin and Kenneth bring a wealth of experience and will provide a fresh perspective on how the council can enable the sector to grow and flourish. I look forward to working with them alongside our diverse communities to turn our ambitions for Haringey’s cultural scene into reality.”
The summit builds on a summer of engagement with stakeholders, young people, residents and community groups to help the council design a new Culture Strategy.
Residents have told us they want more music, more events to bring communities together, and more activities and festivals in parks and open spaces.
A draft of the strategy will be presented at the Haringey Feast, a showcase of Haringey’s culture and creativity coming to Alexandra Palace on 19 November. Find out more about Haringey Feast and how you can take part at www.haringeyfeast.com
