Mamusu Jabbie from Enfield Young Creatives Network on the potential of the borough to become a vibrant creative hub

As a designer of West African heritage, born in the Netherlands and raised in Enfield, I have always been interested by creative identity; both personal and local.

Growing up, studying, playing and exploring in Enfield, you quickly realise that spaces designed to develop creativity were often private and expensive, limiting access for many young people.

As an architecture graduate, you start to understand that the industrial landscape of Enfield has an uneven distribution of creative spaces; ultimately creating social disconnection from modern creative expression.

This awareness informed my own theoretical and artistic research; developing a body of work that explores people, places, and the formation of identity through placemaking design. My research led me to discover and engage with various grassroots initiatives, exploring council initiatives, local workshops, organisations, and even contributing to the delivery of public art murals. This deepened my understanding for how placemaking design can be used as a tool for public engagement and storytelling.

As an Enfieldian, I believe Enfield has the potential to become a vibrant creative hub that truly represents its diverse communities. It’s encouraging to see initiatives and funding emerging, most notably ‘Enfield of Dreams’, which provides a framework for local arts organisations, designers, artists and young creatives to work collaboratively on creative projects.

The project presents ideas and design concepts that inform the future of culture in Enfield, while supporting young creatives to remain and thrive locally. It helps to ensure that the wider community benefits from inclusive public spaces.

Designing spaces where diverse communities can feel valued and find connections is a key motivator for me. My dream is to be a part of the development of inclusive placemaking projects, not-for-profit creative youth centres, and annual creative festivals that will showcase Enfield’s culture.

Enfield of Dreams is not just about art or design; it’s about developing spaces within our current environment that reflect the energy, diversity and imagination of the community, small businesses and, most importantly, the youth.

This article is published with support from LocalMotion Enfield, part of a UK-wide movement for community-led change

LocalMotion Enfield is part of a UK-wide movement for community-led change – we're proud to partner with Enfield Dispatch to share local voices and stories

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