Celebrating the First Cultural Champion Nominees for the Wandsworth Civic Awards
We are so pleased to announce the first ever Cultural Champion nominees for the Wandsworth Civic Awards. Several of the champions have been deeply involved in Wandsworth Council Arts and Culture Service programming, as well as this year’s London Borough of Culture.
Introducing our cultural champion nominees:
Ruth Essel
When Ruth founded Pointe Black ballet school, she was determined no one would ever experience the discrimination she had faced as a young dancer. With dancers ranging in age from 18 months to 63 years, Ruth has helped bring dance to all members of the community through its weekly classes based in Battersea, as well as running a scholarship scheme to support those who are struggling and producing an inclusive dance showcase for Wandsworth’s Black History 365 programme.
Tiah Algalarrondo
Identity, community wellbeing, and cultural storytelling provide the backdrop for Tiah’s Arty-Crafty Crescent Club, which provides regular arts and crafts workshops that encourage self-expression. Tiah’s hands-on approach to bringing free and low-cost arts and crafts workshops to women, children, and neurodiverse people - particularly from Muslim, migrant, and refugee backgrounds – helps support under-represented voices.
Sahana Gero
Music can break down barriers and foster unity, creativity and opportunity for all, believes Sahana, who founded the World Heart Beat Academy in 2009 and has overseen its growth to a base in Kimber Road and a cultural hub in Nine Elms. Around 350 children and young people attend the music academy each week for lessons and performances, while bursaries support disadvantaged young musicians, alongside a mentoring programme and industry training scheme.
Colleen Samuel
Colleen has been the lynchpin of the Friends of Putney Library since the group launched in 2013 to protect, enhance and promote the role of the public space within the community. Extending far beyond a love of reading, Colleen led the group for eleven years as its chair, organising regular talks on local and historical topics, a film club and sharing a useful community bulletin.
Read more about the nominees for Wandsworth’s Civic Awards 2025
The awards ceremony will take place on Tuesday 11th November. The event is free but tickets are limited. Book yours now!