The Waltham Forest Borough of Culture had commenced on New Year's Day 2019 and will run its way through the year. The festivities will then be finally passed onto the borough of Brent. The boroughs of Brent and most importantly Waltham Forest will be respectively awarded more than £1million to produce entertainment, cultural events and activities. The main aim of the events is to draw 80% of the people living in the area. Furthermore, this will attract tourists and lead to an increase in the sales, an opportunity in which supports local businesses, market stalls and the entirety of the community to thrive in. The launch event gave us a chance to travel to different parts of the world, through the enticing and aromatic street food on display, will show how London has been transformed into the well-known multi-cultural city that it is today. The vast range of choices include Caribbean, oriental, Eastern European cuisines and more. This will fulfil the consumers’ taste buds, at a reasonable price and lead to not only customer satisfaction, but as a whole the city being represented as a warm and welcoming city.

In my first-hand experience, the installation at Lloyd’s Park in Walthamstow, was an immersive creative showcase to be spoken about for generations to come. Talvin Singh had led a cast of artists alongside the young people of Waltham Forest to produce an immense opening event (‘Welcome to the Forest’). The visionary group of Greenaway and Greenaway attempted to tell the story of Waltham Forest as seen through the eyes and experiences of the borough’s young people. This was achieved through creating an audio-visual piece for the event in collaboration with local colleges, community groups and young artists that was projected onto the historic Waltham Forest Town Hall. The spirit of William Morris, a radical socialist, who lived in Walthamstow, was very much in evidence motivating the future generations of ‘makers, radicals and enthusiasts. The borough also experienced award-winning acts such as Marshmallow Laser Feast coming together alongside composer Erland Cooper in Lloyd’s park. The performance had been done with 1000 children from the borough’s community choirs. The convenience of the fest commencing during the night was beneficial as laser won’t show up in daylight. In addition, the arts community was rightfully shone upon for its spectacular work in the community over the last couple of years. To conclude, the curtains had begun to fall on a glorious first day, but not before a schoolgirl had finished the event with a line from William Morris; “The past is not dead, it is living in us, and will be alive in the future which we are now helping to make.”

The presence of Sadiq Khan at the Borough of Culture event can possibly signify a strong political message. The current lack of belief in the Conservative party to execute Brexit proceedings or not has had a disadvantageous effect. Hence, why the presence of Sadiq Khan (Labour Mayor of London) can change some locals political opinions on the different parties. Furthermore, it can also show that Sadiq Khan is ‘for the people’, a factor in which people tend to like.

However, the Borough of Culture is beginning to divide opinion amongst the locals. The increase in anti-social behaviour in the youth community has been a long-term issue and yet to be tackled. Recently, a local 14-year-old boy fell victim to the ongoing issue and was fatally stabbed in Leyton, East London. This adds to the argument that anti-social behaviour is not declining. A statistic from the Metropolitan Police in November 2018 shows crimes in the borough had spiked. This had led locals to question whether the Borough of Culture is being taken advantage of. It has been argued that the budget can be funded into the youth centres and offer guidance to troubled teens. Being from Edmonton, North London I think the event is a perfect opportunity to display the area. The increase in crime and general anti-social behaviour can make people forget the importance of community. Hence, why with locals coming together it symbolises a sense of unity and hope for the future.

In summary, The Waltham Forest Borough of Culture 2019 locals should proudly roam the streets of East London and add towards the legacy of their local area. This opportunity of hosting the event should make locals tenacious; in proving why they have been rightly chosen.