Organisers of Brixton’s Urban Art Fair – one of the events that has helped to boost Brixton’s reputation as a creative powerhouse since it was founded 15 years ago – say it may have to close because of charges imposed by Lambeth council.
They say that the July open air show in Josephine Avenue would have to pay £2,000 for the road to be closed this year compared to £1,400 in 2016.
The first show in 2002 was a one-day event with 36 exhibitors celebrating local creative talent and raising money for the avenue’s residents association.
Last year’s had 180 artists, down on 2015, but raised a record £4,400 for local charities and good causes.
Organiser Tim Sutton said that “Back in 2002 a pop-up street market was a new idea”.
When he approached the council for seed funding he was told by the arts officer that any money available would be spent on council-led projects only.
“Since then residents have seen a number of council resourced street markets spring up across the borough all of which compete for both for visitors and exhibitors,” he said.
Together with a £500 payment to exhibit street art produced at the fair in Windrush Square, Urban Art would have to pay the council £2,500 to put on Urban Art 2017.
Sutton warned: “Urban Art will not be used as a revenue stream for Lambeth’s own arts projects. After 15 years of battling with Lambeth I am exhausted. Maybe it’s time to call it a day.”
This is such a sad story. Unbelievable that the council we pay taxes to to protect and nurture communities should turn its back on such a beautiful event. Last year I met people from all over the Uk, they’d travelled hundreds of miles to be there. Honestly, what is the game of a council that seems bent on destroying the things it should be most proud of? As if the Carnegie Library debacle was not bad enough…now this.