London Borough of Brent has won the Culture Award 2020 and been given approximately £1.3m for a programme of events which will showcase the borough’s cultural story, beating more than 20 London boroughs who also competed to win. There were rounds of applause in the Civic Centre in Wembley Park as the Mayor of London’s announcement came through by video link.
Navin Shah AM who was present during the announcement told Asian Voice, “I am thrilled Brent has been picked as the 2020 London Borough of Culture. This opens up so many exciting opportunities for local people, and I can’t wait to see the £1 million award go towards unlocking the huge talent and creativity in our community
“Brent Council’s bid includes a huge summertime street party for 200,000 people with 16 pop-up visual arts, dance, theatre and music commissions. It also includes a large-scale not for profit media pilot project called Brent Lives and there are plans to turn Brent into an open-air museum for 2020 for local people, Londoners and tourists from further afield. This a true recognition of Brent’s rich diversity and the excellent record it has as a leading borough when it comes to culture, arts and innovation.
“I would like to thank all of the local businesses, schools and residents that got behind the bid so enthusiastically- this is a testament to all of their hard work and the great things that can happen when the whole community comes together.
Dawn Butler, MP for Brent Central,told the Kilburn Times that she was “absolutely thrilled” that the borough won adding: “High profile celebrities backed the bid including Rogue One star Riz Ahmed and England football star Raheem Sterling when the scheme was announced last summer.”
A dedicated website to capture selfies and videos were sent in by supporters of the borough’s wealth of cultural activities. Waltham Forest won Borough of Culture 2019.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan said: “Huge congratulations to Waltham Forest and Brent for their superb bids...I am thrilled Brent has been picked as the 2020 London Borough of Culture. This opens up so many exciting opportunities for local people, and I can’t wait to see the £1 million award go towards unlocking the huge talent and creativity in our community...”
