Programme aimed at using culture to boost night-time economy in Angel Edmonton awarded £200,000

*The Fore Street for All organising team outside Fore Street Library (credit Natalie G)*

A community-led cultural programme aiming to boost the night-time economy in Angel Edmonton has been launched – with the help of a £200,000 grant from the Mayor of London.

Local artists, musicians, poets and other performers were hosted across various venues in Fore Street as part of an inaugural late-night event in December. It sought to test ways of “invigorating local enterprise and ultimately increasing cultural and civic engagement”.

The programme is called ‘Fore Street for All’ and is the result of a collaboration between community group Residents of Edmonton Angel Community Together (React), Edmonton art organisation Artist Hive Studios, and collaborative architects Fisher Cheng.

Among the venues to take part were Fore Street Library, Pages and Blendz Cafe, The White Horse Pub, Coal City Restaurant, and hair salon Boss Cuts. They played host to musical acts including an Afro-Colombian bullerengue group, a steel pan musician and local DJ, while artists, ceramicists and printmakers displayed their work and poets read their verse. Yam and plantain sampling bowls were provided by Coal City for hungry attendees.

Fore Street for All was selected as one of 15 projects around the capital to receive funding from the Mayor of London’s ‘High Streets for All Challenge’ programme, which has sought innovative high street recovery strategies to “breathe new life” into town centres through local partnerships.

*Live music and dance by Tottenham-based musicians Akola Tambo, bringing Afro-Colombian bullerengue beats to The White Horse Pub (credit Natalie G)*

Joanne McCartney, London Assembly member for Enfield and Haringey, said: “Our local high streets have been hit hard by the pandemic so far, and social enterprise projects like the one being delivered by React are key to breathing new life into them.

“This new cultural enterprise programme, being funded by the mayor, will not only place the revamped Fore Street Library back at the centre of the community, but help to equip local young people with the skills they need to succeed with mentoring and training opportunities.”

Enfield Council will shortly be relaunching Fore Street Library to allow it to host a wider mix of uses, including youth facilities, business support, exhibitions and evening events.

For more information about Fore Street for All and to find out how to get involved:
Email [email protected]
Visit forestreetforall.com

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