Proposals for a ‘London Art Trail’ linking all 32 of the city’s boroughs will be debated next week in a bid to spread culture to every corner of the capital.
The trail would be commissioned by mayor Sadiq Khan, with one new artwork in each borough created by a local artist, school or youth club.
The idea has been put forward by Lord Bailey, the London Assembly member and former Tory mayoral candidate, who points out that many of the capital’s most famous works of art are concentrated in the city centre.
In a formal motion to be debated by the Assembly on Thursday, November 7, Lord Bailey will argue that an art trail linking every borough would “build on the London Borough of Culture initiative” and “further encourage local tourism and bolster economic growth in outer London”.
The motion states that “art not only enriches the cultural appeal of a destination but also contributes to its economic growth”, with the Government having estimated that the creative industries in 2022 generated £126bn in gross value added to the UK economy and employed 2.4 million people.
The concept has won cross-party backing, as Anne Clarke, the Labour assembly member for Barnet and Camden, has formally seconded the motion - an indication that it will secure majority support from the Assembly.
If the motion is carried, it will then be sent to the mayor’s office to consider - though he is under no obligation to agree to it.
In his recent re-election manifesto, Mr Khan wrote: “I know that London’s culture isn’t just about Zone 1 – it’s threaded through each borough that makes up our city.
“So I will continue to deliver the next rounds of the London Borough of Culture in Wandsworth in 2025 and Haringey in 2027, ensuring culture is brought closer to our communities.”
Introduced under Mr Khan’s mayoralty and awarded every two years, each Borough of Culture receives £1.35m in City Hall funding to deliver a programme of cultural activities.
Three other boroughs competing for the title – Barnet, Merton and Greenwich - were earlier this year granted runner-up ‘Cultural Impact Awards’, and will receive up to £200,000 to deliver smaller projects.
