HARLOW Council has produced a cultural manifesto outlining its plans to establish the town as a cultural capital for the region.

As the council continues to deliver on its mission to rebuild our town and prepares for the construction of the Harlow Arts and Cultural Quarter, work has also been taking place on how best to promote the town’s creativity and to set up a framework that will help provide a cultural offering that is recognised across the region. This framework – “Rebuild: Reimagine – establishing Harlow as a cultural capital” – has been put together through working closely in partnership with Rhiannon Faith Company and is the result of extensive engagement work with both the public and creative industry members.

The plan, which goes to this week’s Cabint, states its intention that “By 2028, Harlow will be a town where extraordinary art is everywhere, created with and for everyone, position us as a Cultural Capital in the East of England.” To achieve this aim, the council will:

• Secure investment to enable cultural regeneration that will help to rebuild our town, renew neighbourhoods and restore civic pride.
• Reimagine Harlow as a world class cultural destination and cultural capital of the East of England.
• Deliver a world-class creative health programme, supporting the health and wellbeing of Harlow residents through engagement with creativity and cultural experiences.
• Support local artists to deliver ambitious work, locally, regionally and nationally.
• Provide extraordinary cultural experiences and events, for all residents, in all 11 wards.
• Create Long Lasting Partnerships and provide strong and co-ordinated voice.

An action plan is included in the framework that will focus on projects that will focus on two priorities – creative people and communities, which aims to give residents the opportunity to be creative and develop their talent, and creative economy, which is about securing investment and supporting the economic and social wellbeing of the community. In addition, the council is making £55,000 available for enabler grant funding, which will be awarded to local artists, cultural organisations and heritage projects. More details on the grant funding application will be announced soon.

Councillor Danielle Brown, Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Culture and Community, said:

“Harlow is truly blessed with so many cultural offerings, from the world’s only sculpture town, to the wonderful Museum, Gibberd Garden and Parndon Mill. Now we must go further and inspire the next generation by making Harlow a capital of culture for the East of England.

“The findings of the engagement work we undertook highlighted a number of barriers which currently exist and limit cultural engagement in Harlow. What this new plan will do is break those barriers down and transform Harlow into a capital of culture for our region – by supporting local artists, delivering inclusive events across all wards in the town and obtaining the funding necessary to fulfil our action plan. This is Building Harlow’s Future in action.

“All this on top of the major investment we are bringing in for the Harlow Arts and Cultural Quarter, which is transforming Playhouse Square into a hub for the arts and creativity as we deliver on our mission to rebuild our town. For too long, Harlow has missed the pulse of a dedicated live music venue, but that era is over. The new Arts and Cultural Quarter will finally bring a vibrant, state-of-the-art live music venue back to the heart of our community, alongside new food outlets and bars that will truly enliven our evenings and create a dynamic destination for all. Crucially, this cultural transformation also includes the development of a high-end, professional recording studio – a state-of-the-art facility that will provide Harlow’s top talent with unparalleled opportunities to create, record, and produce music right here in our town.

“This comprehensive framework is not just about buildings; it’s about igniting our creative economy, fostering a thriving artistic community, and simultaneously transforming the wellbeing of every resident. By fully backing the creative sector in Harlow, we are investing in a future where culture is accessible to all, where local talent can flourish, and where our town centre buzzes with renewed energy, excitement, and opportunity. This is how we build a stronger, happier, and more culturally enriched Harlow for generations to come.”