Welcome to Wandsworth marks halfway point as the Mayor's London Borough of Culture

Fresh from the success of Liberty Festival 2025 and Wandsworth Artists' Open House, we proudly reflect on six months as the Mayor of London’s Borough of Culture, a period marked by a spectacular array of events and programmes that have ignited the cultural spirit of local people.
And the excitement is far from over! With an unwavering focus on leaving an indelible mark, Wandsworth is set to become an even more culturally rich and vibrant hub, where art and connection thrive for all.
Kemi Akinola, Deputy Leader of Wandsworth Council, said: ‘At this midway point, we are bursting with pride to have orchestrated a phenomenal series of events, alongside groundbreaking grant schemes and engagement programmes that have truly empowered our local community to create and revel in culture! There’s an incredible journey still ahead, and we are absolutely committed to ensuring our year leaves a monumental, lasting legacy, transforming Wandsworth into the most culturally rich and vibrant borough in London, where art and culture are the beating heart of a happy, healthy, and connected community!’
Justine Simons OBE, Deputy Mayor for Culture and the Creative Industries, said: ‘It has been a fantastic first half of Wandsworth’s year as the Mayor’s London Borough of Culture. From the electric energy of Strictly Wandsworth to the imaginative brilliance of the Liberty Festival, Wandsworth has used the power of culture to bring communities together, turning parks, theatres, schools and streets into vibrant hubs of artistic expression. I can’t wait to see what the next six months brings as Wandsworth continues to take centre stage and builds a lasting legacy, as we build a better London for everyone.’
A string of high-profile events kicked off with the sensational Strictly Wandsworth, featuring 200 dancers from 16 organizations, captivating over 4,000 attendees, and powered by 21 passionate new volunteers. The biggest ever Wandsworth Arts Fringe in June was an artistic explosion, drawing 24,842 enthusiastic audiences and participants and showcasing 767 brilliant creatives.
Country on the Common, a brand-new, unforgettable event in July, drew an incredible 10,800+ attendees and rallied 33 dedicated volunteers. Battersea Park in Concert, held in August, was a resounding success, bringing together over 16,400 attendees and 42 volunteers for an unforgettable experience. Urban Flow, a magnificent procession involving 600 individuals carrying specially crafted flags, launched the autumn programme in vibrant, celebratory style! And Liberty Festival, the Mayor of London’s flagship disability arts festival, presented 17 groundbreaking commissions, from immersive installations to music, dance theatre, and cabaret, featuring over 50 disabled creatives across 6 borough venues to an audience of over 1500.
The second half of the year promises even more extraordinary experiences, including Palace of Varieties, a spectacular celebration of 125 years of the iconic Clapham Grand, a compelling new podcast series Our Music Our Freedom that will weave the vibrant tapestry of Wandsworth’s diverse communities through music, and a captivating artist film by the award-winning Dame Sonia Boyce, honouring the life and work of the legendary performer Dame Carmen Munroe. And there's still so much more to be revealed!
Health and Wellbeing
The profound positive impact of culture and creative opportunities is the very foundation of the entire Welcome to Wandsworth programme, with an intense focus on audience experience, participation, training, and engagement for people of all ages and backgrounds.
As part our year as London Borough of Culture we are pioneering one of the UK’s largest Creative Health programmes. Working in partnership with local NHS and community organisations, we have over 20 projects that are tackling health inequalities through culture, this includes: memory boxes supporting people with dementia; dance programmes to get everyone active and moving from Strictly Wandsworth and Urban Flow to summer programmes for young people and bespoke classes for young people with autism; arts therapy for people with depression and mental health issues; music therapy for primary school children; promoting singing to improve people’s physical and mental health through Sing to Thrive; as well as the residencies at St George, Queen Mary’s, Springfield children’s ward, Springfield’s adult ward hospitals and at the Royal Hospital of Neuro-disability through Culturally Mindful.
Talent of the Future
Beyond a major public events programme, igniting the creativity of young people has been a paramount focus of the Welcome to Wandsworth year. An astounding 5,000 young people from 11 secondary and 41 primary schools plunged into the Youth and Schools programmes between April and July. Beyond the classroom, The Story Catchers, Young Reporters, and Young Reviewers projects have nurtured the creative careers of Wandsworth’s brilliant young residents aged 13 – 25.
The second half of the Welcome to Wandsworth year will witness the launch of the Young Producers scheme, and UPLIFT, a festival of new plays written by young people, set to take place in November.
Running from 15 Sep -13 March, the London Borough of Culture internships offer local 18-25 year-olds paid hands-on experience and training to help build a future in the cultural industries, hosted by 9 Wandsworth arts and culture organisations.
Investing in Artists
A vital part of the Welcome to Wandsworth legacy will be the investment into the professional development of the borough’s artists, performers, and makers, to ensure a positive future for Wandsworth’s thriving creative ecosystem.
Networking events in February, May, and September drew nearly 300 passionate Wandsworth-based creative professionals, and groundbreaking training sessions and essential toolkits are slated for release within the next six months.
Culturally Mindful is an ambitious, groundbreaking new 6-month Creative Health paid residency and training programme sweeping across Wandsworth throughout 2025–2026. It unites Global Majority artists, dedicated healthcare providers, and vital grassroots organisations to co-design revolutionary new approaches to health and wellbeing support.
In the first six months of the year, over £150,000 in London Borough of Culture Community Investment Fund grants were awarded across 80 cultural and heritage projects. These vital funds included the first round of the rolling Welcome to Wandsworth micro commissions, offering Wandsworth residents up to £1000 to fuel their brilliant ideas, as well as major project grants of up to £10,000. Funding was also strategically distributed via programme-specific grants for Wandsworth Arts Fringe, groundbreaking programming on the Winstanley & Alton Estates, Youth Clubs, South Asian Heritage Month, the Wandsworth Heritage Festival, and Black History 365 projects.
In addition, Wimbledon Foundation Community grants, totalling an astounding £125,000+, were awarded in the Summer, and 15 local schools have received almost £10,000 in microgrants between March and September this year.
The second half of the year promises even more opportunities for professional development, ongoing activity in schools, and transformative programmes to embed arts and culture into wellbeing throughout the year.