A £350,000 Place Partnership grant from Arts Council England has been awarded to support a new Young People’s Borough of Culture programme in Hammersmith & Fulham.
The initiative will run for two years and is led by Lyric Hammersmith Theatre in partnership with Hammersmith & Fulham Council and The Earls Court Development Company.
The programme aims to empower young people across the borough to celebrate their cultural lives and connect their creativity with local innovation sectors.
A wide‑ranging series of projects will be delivered, including School Arts Week, the Our Place participatory grants scheme and a new October Young People’s Festival.
Young people who live or study in the borough are also being invited to join the Young People’s Borough of Culture Board, which will help steer the programme over the next eighteen months.
The board will be made up of youth representatives who will receive training, mentorship and skills development opportunities as part of their involvement.
Harris Bokhari OBE, Chair of Where Culture Connects H&F Cultural Compact, said: “The Young People’s Borough of Culture is a major initiative for us, and one which I know has the potential to be transformative for young people in H&F, bringing their creativity and the opportunities in our Borough together in a celebration of cultural potential.”
Amy Belson, Executive Director at Lyric Hammersmith Theatre, said: “Providing opportunities for young people to engage with their creativity and unlocking pathways into employment has always been a cornerstone of the Lyric’s work. So I’m thrilled that this project, made possible by funding from Arts Council England and H&F Council, will allow us to extend this ethos to over 10,000 children and young people across Hammersmith & Fulham. Young People’s Borough of Culture marks a step-change in improving arts provision, addressing skills gaps and creating long term links between the borough’s innovation sectors and its young people. We’re delighted to be leading this project for the H&F Cultural Compact and alongside our incredible partner organisations, and cannot wait to showcase the talent, tenacity and potential of our borough’s young people over the next two years.”
Cllr Florian Chevoppe-Verdier, H&F Cabinet Member for Public Realm, said: “In a world that feels increasingly challenging for young people, it’s more important than ever that we give them spaces to express themselves, discover their strengths and build confidence in who they are becoming. This new Arts Council funding for the Lyric is a wonderful boost for our borough. It will help us continue opening doors to creativity, connection and opportunity, ensuring that every young person in H&F can grow, thrive and imagine a brighter future. We are proud to champion the power of culture and self‑expression, and proud of the young people who make H&F the best place to grow up.”
Tom Branton, Development Director at The Earls Court Development Company, said: “Earls Court has a long association with culture and live performance. With global cultural firsts already on site as part of our meanwhile uses, and three new venues included in plans for the site’s transformation, we want to place it once again at the forefront of London’s creative life. We are pleased to support the Young People’s Borough of Culture programme and the next generation who will shape the city’s cultural future. By leading the programme’s skills and careers strand, in partnership with The Lyric and Hammersmith & Fulham Council, we hope to open up clearer pathways into the creative industries so that young people across the borough can see the opportunities available and take part. Creating inclusive routes into these sectors is essential if London’s cultural life is to reflect the diversity and talent of its communities.”
Further programming updates, including details of the October Young People’s Festival, will be announced in the coming months.
More information can be found here.
