Cultural Camden is a free network open to organisations, institutions, businesses and freelancers who want to join a collaborative network that works together to protect and grow arts and culture in our borough.

Our journey

Cultural Camden was founded in December 2018 by Camden Council, supported by its steering group of 16 organisations and two freelancers from across the creative sector.

In March 2020, Cultural Camden opened up to members, launched by Cllr Jonathan Simpson, chair of Cultural Camden, (previous Cabinet Member for Promoting Culture and Communities) at the British Museum.

Our structure

Cultural Camden is an informal partnership network, led by its steering group and Camden Council. At some point, a board will be elected and will take over from the current steering group.

Camden Council's Arts Development team manages the network's day-to-day operation and work, taking strategic direction from the steering and working groups.

The Cultural Framework

Cultural Camden's steering group shaped Camden's first Cabinet endorsed cultural framework.

Cultural Camden members support the delivery of Camden's cultural framework by sharing the network with others and being open to collaboration, working towards its vision of a borough shaped and inspired by its culture.

Our work

Currently, we are focused on supporting our members in any way we can through the pandemic. We also have a work plan with six action areas, each with a working group that provides guidance:

• Grow the network.
• Analyse and use member data for lobbying etc.
• Develop a sustainable fundraising plan.
• Examine access to the sector through volunteering, employment and self-employment.
• Support education providers to increase their arts engagement.
• Explore ways to increase engagement with arts and culture through programming and marketing.

Cultural Camden is a free network open to organisations, institutions, businesses and freelancers who want to join a collaborative network that works together to protect and grow arts and culture in our borough.

Why join?

Members choose to join because they want to work together to create more opportunities for everyone who lives, visits and identifies with Camden.

You can choose how you would like to be involved:

• Shape the direction and delivery of the cultural framework.
• Have your views represented to decision-makers, funders and politicians.
• Take on opportunities to collaborate with other members.
• Join workshops offering support on funding and other sector topics.
• Cross-promote your public programmes and other offers.

Working together

Everyone who joins consents to having their work contact information shared with other members, and offers to support the network in different ways:

• Feed into collective responses on industry topics.
• Introduce prospective members.
• Offer advice to other members.
• Work with members on projects, programmes etc.

Can I join?

Cultural Camden is free to join and open to Camden organisations, institutions, businesses and freelancers who want to be part of a collaborative network that supports arts and cultural. All members must be 18 or over.

All prospective organisation need a Camden address to sign up.

If you are a freelancer who is a sole trader or in a business partnership, you will need to have registered with HMRC, have a Camden business address and work mainly in Camden or with its residents.

How do I join?

You can nominate one or multiple members to represent your workplace or business. You will need to name a member responsible for keeping your details up-to-date and provide copy or images if needed.

Any questions? We're happy to help.

Mike Candler, Arts Development Manager mike.candler@camden.gov.uk

Love Camden is our guide for residents and visitors to explore everything Camden has to offer, from art exhibitions and theatre shows, to comedy gigs, pop-ups and events. 

Check out the neighbourhood guides to explore what’s on your doorstep, discover something new from our Top 10 articles. Keep up to date by following Love Camden on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. 

Camden events and arts teams are proud to host an extensive program of cultural and educational events to celebrate Black history month in October right through to mid December. With a focus on online events that include presentations and panel Q and A's, live performances, informative talks and walks, highlights include:

Back to the future: A celebration of the history, culture and influences of the African Diaspora on British life.

Cook a long: Weekly live streamed sessions with some of Camden's best Caribbean and African restaurants and chefs.

Black Film Collectives Then and Now : This exhibition, part of Camden’s Black History Back to the Future Season, will open on 5th October and will be presented in the gallery space at Swiss cottage library and online.  

Books and Beyond: Weekly book club and discussion for Black History Season from Camden Events Service.

Head ties and Wraps: Exploring the complex history of turbans, head ties and head wraps with a virtual workshop,imagery and showing of the film Wax Print.

Contemporary activism from past to present: From past to present we link Authors, Activists and thinking about how young people can become future activists.

Rhyme Time and Little Leaders: Weekly Online learning and workshops for children.

Bars and Conversations: A pre-recorded podcast aimed to address specific topics in the music industry hosted by Small Green Shoots. The topics are Cultural appropriation, being a black female, being from the LGBTQ community.

Black History Walks by Tony Warner: A collection of guided tours throughout London Black History Walks invites the reader to see their surroundings with new eyes.

Legacy of Black Film Talk: Marlon Palmer of Kush Films the UK’s longest running and leading exhibitor of black films invites industry guests to discuss the pioneering legacy of UK black film exhibitors and also look at successful black film distribution & how to get your film distributed. Film showing and panel discussion ‘The Legacy of Black Film Exhibition & Distribution in Britain’

Library Lates: Traditional late-night story tales with TUUP - the Unorthodox Unprecedented Preacher, Usifu - The Cowfoot Prince and guest live musicians.

For a full list of events and ticket details please visit Camden's Black History season guide on Love Camden.

Events are subject to change.

This fund has been created by Camden Council to commission new work that takes place outdoors as part of Camden Together, a season celebrating Camden's reopening through arts and culture from early July to October 2021.

It's open to:

• Camden-based freelance artists, creatives and producers.  
• Camden-based cultural and community organisations to work with freelance artists, creatives and producers.

The maximum grant award is £5,000, but we welcome applications for a smaller amount, with a minimum lower award of £250.

We'll support applicants to secure licenses and permissions to use specific locations following a successful application to the programme.

• Artists in Communities grant fund criteria
• Artists in Communities grant fund application

If you'd like to prepare for filling out the application, these are the questions on the form – Artists in Communities application questions.

The deadline is 23:59 Sunday 30 May 2021. Applications received after this will not be accepted.

The government announced a 1.57bn recovery package for the arts, culture and heritage sector, with 1.15bn available for England in July 2020. 

Culture Recovery Fund overview

• £500m for arts and culture organisations, Local Authorities, Universities and other Public Sector bodies who run or maintain cultural services via Arts Council England
• £30m for non-profit and independent cinema via the British Film Institute
• £92m for heritage organisations via Historic England and the National Lottery Heritage Fund
• £270m for loans via the Culture Recovery Board for Department for Culture, Media and Sport
• £100m of targeted support for national cultural institutions
• £120m in capital investment to restart construction on cultural and heritage infrastructure projects, paused due to coronavirus

By 11 December £1 billion worth of Cultural Recovery funding had been allocated across all four nations of the UK. London was awarded £150m, Camden was awarded £14m.

You can search for space through the rehearsal space finder website, or through the Greater London Authority Cultural Infrastructure Map.

You can also contact the Camden Events Service who have a number of rehearsal spaces at competitive rates.
Email events@camden.gov.uk or phone 020 7974 5633.