Young creatives in Enfield will be able to actively shape the borough’s cultural future by participating in the newly launched Enfield of Dreams programme.
This exciting two-year initiative will include a Young Cultural Leaders project and an artist-led learning programme in the borough’s secondary schools. There will be an emphasis on training and skills development. It will also help young people co-create public projects and engage in training sessions to become future creative leaders, helping shape the borough’s cultural activities.
Led by UP Projects, an award-winning Enfield based public art organisation, the initiative works in partnership with local organisations, including the Council, Chickenshed Theatre, Face Front Theatre, Platinum Performing Arts, Border Crossings, High Rise Theatre, as well as other creative individuals.
The project has been made possible through a £500,000 Place Partnership National Lottery grant from Arts Council England awarded to awarded to organisations in the borough, helping boost the level of cultural investment in Enfield.
Councillor Chinelo Anyanwu, Cabinet Member for Culture and Inclusion, said, “We’re thrilled about the development of this project and what it will mean for Enfield’s long-term cultural legacy as we pave the way for the borough’s next cultural strategy.
“We recognise the importance of working together, ensuring that the young cultural leaders of the future, along with organisations already within our communities, feel empowered to shape that strategy in ways that will directly benefit local people for years to come.
“As a Council, we’ll keep working on projects that give young people in our borough the tools and opportunities they need to take ownership and reach their full potential.”
Emma Underhill, Founder and Artistic Director of UP Projects, said, "Enfield of Dreams represents a major investment in culture for one of the Arts Council’s priority boroughs, and we’re thrilled to be leading the project as a locally based public art organisation.
"This project allows us to draw on our experience of over 20 years of curating artist-led projects through community collaboration across the country. A significant part of UP Projects’ programme is dedicated to engaging children and young people working within educational settings and beyond the school walls.
"We’re excited to amplify the voices of Enfield’s young people, and to collaborate meaningfully with local artists and cultural partners. We look forward to seeing how the project unfolds as young people’s voices are placed at the heart of Enfield’s cultural landscape."
Residents will also be able to engage in the public projects created through the Enfield of Dreams programme, strengthening the cultural connection between communities in the borough.
Enfield Council is committed to nurturing its creative network, allowing young people the opportunities to be empowered, sharpen their talents, and gain skills to enhance their future success.
Photo credit: This Is Us Festival, Millfield Theatre, July 2025. Photo: Rudy Farragher