A revamped Brixton Splash is due to run from Friday August 4 to Sunday August 6 next year (2017) and organisers have promised consultation wth the community over an “arts and music orientated event”.
A team led by Brixton-born community organiser Ros Griffiths is planning a series of local engagement meetings, due to start in September this year.
The aim is to ensure that “the event returns to its original objectives, to be a safe, community-led event, which gives Brixton a positive boost”.
The organisers said that Griffiths and other prominent Brixtonians set up the annual street festival in 2006 as a community run event, celebrating the cultural diversity and history of Brixton.
Last year’s Splash, they said, “was marred by arrests, a firearms incident and was dangerously overcrowded”.
Griffiths said: “We are taking Brixton Splash back to its roots and relaunching Splash as a family friendly event that the whole community will want to be part of.
“We will work with Lambeth council, local businesses, residents’ groups and locals to make that happen.
“Sadly, last year’s event wasn’t one that served the local community or local businesses.
“We need to take this opportunity and make it an event that works for everyone who lives and works in Brixton.”
The Brixton BID (business improvement district) provides the opportunity for the businesses in Brixton, to decide and govern what’s best for the area.
Terry Eagle, a BID board member and franchisee of Brixton McDonald’s, said: “We really want our members, who are 656 businesses in Brixton, to get on board with this revamped event.
“It’s a fabulous area and we want to get fully involved in the celebration of that.”
Businesses and others can register interest on the new Brixton Splash website or email info@brixtonsplashfestival.com.
I went to last years and it was overcrowded and quite dangerous on Coldharbour.
Hope it doesn’t happen.
Very pleased to hear Splash is returning to its roots as so much of Brixton’s originality is being exponged by rapid gentrification.
The fact that Last year’s Splash “was marred by arrests, a firearms incident” was down to rapid gentrification was it?
Okaaaaayyy..