Brent culture 2020

London Borough of Culture 2020

AND THE … …

S I R E N N I W

So what is this prize Brent has won?

When he launched the London Borough of Culture competition last year, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said: “London is the world’s creative capital. However, at the moment, only a third of Londoners feel that they make the most of the culture on their doorstep. We are home to globally renowned institutions, yet still too many people who call London home don’t access what the city has to offer. London Borough of Culture will help to change this.”

Now Brent has won, Sadiq Khan said: “Congratulations to Brent on their visionary proposal to become London Borough of Culture in 2020. Brent’s bid stood out as it had young people at its heart, exploring what culture means to them in the 21st century.”

When the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan launched a brand new competition to choose a London Borough of Culture for 2019 and another for 2020, I just knew that Brent was the natural choice.

Brent has been more culturally diverse – for longer – than any other London borough. To live, work, visit or study in Brent is to hear music, experience art, hear voices, see faces and taste foods from all corners of the globe, all in one day. From the classroom, to the high roads and the arenas, we want to create moments of wonder, joy and celebration that will bring all our communities together.

Now the Mayor of London has named Brent as the winner for 2020, which comes with a cheque for £1,350,000, we have the chance to build something really special, working with leading artists from inside Brent and beyond. Huge numbers from around the globe are already coming to Brent in 2020 for the Euros at Wembley, and while they are here for the football, we’ll show them a taste of culture that will have them coming back again and again.

You can read about the seven exciting ideas that went into our winning bid over the following pages.

The bid might be coordinated by the council, but it will be delivered by a broad, genuine and lasting partnership.

Our bid is for everyone with young people taking control of the issues which affect them today and in the future, as 2020 sees arts and culture cemented at the heart of life in Brent for a generation and beyond.

Cllr Muhammed Butt, Leader of Brent Council

“As the home of reggae, Zadie Smith, the Tricycle Theatre and a truly diverse population, Brent’s bid has the potential to transform the local community – in the year of the Euro 2020 Championship, when all the world’s eyes will be on Wembley.”

What you’ll see in 2020...

Brent Lives

A large-scale not-for-profit media pilot project will see local young people supported in developing their skills across film, radio and writing, and then broadcast to millions of young people round the world.

Thoroughfare

There will be a huge summertime street party for 200,000 people with 16 popup visual arts, dance, theatre and music commissions. We’ll open up a stretch of the A5 to pedestrians for the party, and celebrate the comings and goings of everyday London.

The Museum of All Brent Life

We will turn the whole of Brent into an open air museum for 2020 for local people, Londoners in general and tourists from further afield. Building on Brent’s own rich history, this will be supplemented by the commissioning of 10 new art works, and by using Brent’s network of libraries as visitor centres to help people explore the interesting nooks and crannies around our borough.

What you’ll see in 2020...

No Bass Like Home

Seen and Heard

This will be a research project, learning how best to put young people in charge of their cultural future.

It will deliver not only benefits for Brent for decades to come, but also provide learning and a template for the rest of London, the UK and the world.

There wiil be a major Reggae music festival in April 2020 for 12,500 people and an exhibition in May for 82,000 people celebrating Brent as the home of Reggae in the UK and Europe.

Lost and Found Our schools and outreach programme will, among other things, result in a new culture curriculum of learning opportunities.

The Anthem

This will be a community music commission, led by a major artist exploring identity in Brent. This new piece of music, created and performed with local people, will explore what living in Brent means, and then introduce it to an international audience of 600 million people through the Euros being hosted at Wembley Stadium in 2020.

It’s all up to you!

This is how you can get involved and make Brent’s 2020 Year of Culture special. Look out for details of our all-Brent Cultural Summit and drop-in sessions at libraries. Visit our website at www.brentculture2020.co.uk for up-to-date news of how our 2020 Year of Culture begins to take shape and how you can join in.

Tweet us at #mylocalculture or #Brent2020

www.brentculture2020.co.uk