Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
Harringay Green Lanes Festival
OK 2014's here. So now can anyone let us know the status of the Harringay Green Lanes Festival?
At the end of 2013 I heard some rather disturbing reports that its off, due to a number of reasons. Cost - all the councils money being spent further east and further west in the borough. No Cabinet member - to push through plans and negotiations with the other boroughs affected ( islington and hackney). Time - I understand that dealing with london transport to get buses rerouted just takes forever and hasnt been done.
Im not sure about all the above details - so does anyone have the definitive answer? It would be such a shame to have to wait another year or two for the next one.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Hugh on
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I'll ask Rob Tao to comment. (Forgive my editorial finger, but to avoid confusion I've changed the title of the festival to Harringay Green Lanes Festival, which is it's official one, though I always refer to it as the Harringay Festival!)
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Nothing like both barrels, John, eh. To the best of my knowledge your thought train is way too cynical and pretty much completely off target.
Rob's aware of the question. So instead of counter-guessing I'll let him fill in the gaps and when he gets a free moment.
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Permalink Reply by Finsbury Park Ranger on
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I would like to see the day wood green gets a little arts and alternative community party love also. It's the work horse of the area but rarely seems to be celebrated in any interesting way. The space outside the cinema is actually quite a sun trap for the best part of the day in the summer and has quite a large pavement space often hugely under used and a combined arts event with the palace could work really well , maybe together with a festival celebrating short Films at the vue cinema perhaps with some Q and A sessions by the directors etc.
Perhaps make it a pan Harringay event and have a series of experiences on the trail from green lanes to alley pally once a year ?
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Sure, John. In my understanding, the points that Andy raises are the key issues - time, cost and cabinet support. It is not my understanding that "Claire's Cabal of Clowns", the use of of Finsbury Park or leveraging parking in the Gardens are the primary driving factors.
Making the festival happen on each of the past two occasions has taken an immense amount of time, most of it unpaid and a large proportion by a few individuals. It's not an uncommon model, but the key question is how we tap that reservoir of willingness and offer it our full psychological and practical support and commitment to bring the festival to fruition this year and on into the future.
So, we shouldn't be asking what are 'they' doing or not doing?; what plots and schemes are acting as barriers?; rather our focus ought to be "What additional help and support is required to make things happen? Am I / Are we prepared to offer that support and when can I/we start?".
I may have this wrong, but it seems to me that in asking HOL to gauge support for future festivals, Rob might be testing the ground on the second of those questions.
Incidentally, all those of us who have enjoyed previous festivals owe a great debt of gratitude to Rob, who put in a huge amount of unpaid time to make them happen for no personal or commercial gain whatsoever.
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Bottom up is always wisest but be careful, exciting regular urban street festivals often wack up the price of property around them.
Before you know it timeout will be billing it as the new Lomdom hotspot and google awards will be awarding it the most hip street in London and property developers will be rubbing their hands.
Careful what you wish for.
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Thanks for filling in those gaps, Rob (and how in character of you to shine the light elsewhere!).
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Permalink Reply by matt on
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And a fair number of your family members Rob who it was a pleasure to meet as I went down GLs snapping photos during the set-up; Festival Day - Perfect Day !!
Question Rob; was Nilgun an important link person to the council? If so, who could be that link person for 2014?
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Permalink Reply by andy h on
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Matt, thanks for the link back to the the photos from 2011. It really does remind me of what a great day it was.
Rob, does that mean the biggest problem is not having a cabinet member on board? I realize that one cant do anything without the money sponsers provide and super human volanteers, but is the festival really done for without the political clout of a cabinet member?
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Andy, you're very welcome.
Re organisation of the festival it does help to have a central co-ordinator that everyone answers to. The council & various London-wide organisations like TfL are key to allowing it to happen (permissions & co-ordination re road closures/change of transport services/waste collection/stall furniture etc.) So yes probably best to have a very good cabinet member in this central role co-ordinating the above permissions etc AND communicating effectively with key co-ordinators within the community (trader's reps, community assoc reps etc).
Maybe the local elections this May do therefore put a spanner in the works, as there maybe a change of councillors and/or change of responsibilities within the council's cabinet. The last election was 2010 - in betw the last two festivals.
But it would be great to hear from the councillors Hugh has emailed.
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Permalink Reply by Nilgun Canver on
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hi everyone, i think a smaller scale festival will be doable. i'm confident that we can generate adequate support from the council and others. As Rob mentioned it'd be helpful to assess the level of support from local residents. In any case, we'll have a celebration following the completion of our regen programme. I believe if we all join forces and traders contribute through the sponsorship we can have one in Sept. 2014.
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Hi again, good news! the council is willing to provide support at the same level as last time. You'll hear more at the end of Jan.
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