London news

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has announced that Lewisham has been awarded the title of London Borough of Culture for 2021 with Croydon winning the accolade for 2023.

Both boroughs will be awarded £1.35m funding to deliver a year-long programme of activities that will place culture at the heart of their communities and celebrate the unique character of local people and places.

Lewisham's bid, Cultural Activism, sets out plans to inspire local people to take action on climate change, while Croydon's bid, This is Croydon, has sustainability at its heart.

Organisation would like to hear the views of arts professionals to inform the content and format of a new monthly webinar series starting January 2020

The Portobello Pavilion is a temporary architectural hub offering free art-and-doing activities to all ages. Popping up each summer in Powis Square with an exciting new experimental build, people gather here to learn new skills, share ideas and spend time with family and friends.

https://www.portobellopavilion.london/

Move Dance Feel is a creative dance project for women recovering from or affected by cancer, including those who are supporting someone with cancer. The project was founded in 2016 to explore what participatory dance could offer in the context of cancer recovery and to address a recognised need for post-treatment support. They have just published really positive evaluation and research. 

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London Mayor Sadiq Khan has launched a new independent trust to protect and support affordable artist workspace in the city. The Creative Land Trust is backed by £4m from City Hall and £2m from Arts Council England (ACE), alongside funding from Bloomberg Philanthropies. The Mayor’s office said the trust is “an independent organisation that will provide financing for affordable workspace providers to buy buildings and will purchase its own property to be used as permanent workspaces for artists in London”.

Eleven London boroughs are to collaborate to provide accommodation to prevent families becoming homeless in a new scheme designed to help the boroughs work together more effectively. The scheme is supported by almost £38million-worth of government funding, and more boroughs are expected to sign up.

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Applications are now open for 'Park Life', for artists based in Greater London. The residency has been developed collaboratively by Outside In, the Bethlem Gallery and CGP London.

ACE is currently running a series of consultation events across the country for its new 10-year strategy, including in London between 6 and 14 November. The framework features health and wellbeing more prominently than in previous ACE strategies - as well as the concept of 'community-led' practice. It also seeks to shift its language from 'arts' to 'creativity' and 'culture'.

The Mayor's office has announced a new project – LDN WMN, which will focus on women whose work has historically been overlooked. The partnership with Tate Collective will involve 20 new artworks in public locations around the city.

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