Events mark Waltham Forest becomes Borough of Culture
Waltham Forest becoming London's first Borough of Culture will be marked by three days of events.
From Friday through to Sunday evening there will be a winter carnival and lights installation in the borough to celebrate the occasion, which will kickstart the "biggest party Waltham Forest has ever seen".
Twenty-two boroughs bid for the accolade of Borough of Culture, which was launched by Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, with Waltham Forest becoming the inaugural winner in 2019 and then the baton will be passed to Brent in 2020.
The aim, according to the Mayor of London, is to "put culture at the heart of communities", earning Waltham Forest £1.35m to spend on cultural activities.
The events to take place this weekend include:
A collaboration between artists Greenway & Greenway and Mercury Music Prize-winning musician Talvin Singh will see an audio and visual projection on the Town Hall
The Nest, an immersive sound and light installation, called in Lloyd Park created by artists Marshmallow Laser Feast
A neon-lit winter carnival along Forest Road
"Culture and sport have the power to improve lives and health and to bring us together as a city," Mr Khan said previously.
"We're lucky that we live in one of the most culturally rich cities on the planet, with our creative industries playing a key role in our economic success, but sadly too many Londoners are still missing out. That's why I'm working hard to expand access to culture into every corner of our city, supporting a broader range of cultural facilities and involving communities at the heart of my programmes.
"We are renowned across the globe for hosting the biggest sporting events and playing home to hugely successful sportsmen and women and teams, but we also need to get more Londoners involved in sport. I've seen the amazing impact it can have in our communities and how it can transform the lives of young Londoners, and that's why I want London to be the most socially integrated and active city in the world.
"I'm determined that all Londoners have the opportunity to gain from the benefits culture and sport can bring to their lives, and to use both as a tool to steer young Londoners away from crime and gangs and towards education and employment."