Lets meet on the Edge - a playful, plant filled installation at Edgware Town (Image credit: Luke ODonovan)
Barnet Council has launched Light and Flight, a new borough-wide cultural programme bringing together artists, residents and local partners to uncover hidden histories, share stories and create new work inspired by Barnet’s past, present and future.
Barnet is one of the three London boroughs, alongside Greenwich and Merton, to receive a Cultural Impact Award from the Mayor of London, recognising ambitious, community-focused cultural programmes that celebrate place, heritage and creativity.
Light and Flight is funded by a Cultural Impact Award, part of the Mayor’s London Borough of Culture programme, with further funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and Arts Council England.
Shaped through extensive community engagement, Light and Flight reflects the input and ideas of more than 2,000 residents. The programme will take inspiration from Barnet’s long-standing connections to filmmaking and aviation.
Cllr Anne Clarke, Barnet Council's Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure, Arts & Sport, said:
“Light and Flight is an ambitious and inclusive cultural programme shaped with and for the people of Barnet.
“It celebrates our borough’s heritage, creativity and diversity, while creating space for new stories to be shared and new connections to be made.
“This programme reflects Barnet’s commitment to being a place where culture, community and imagination can take flight.”
Justine Simons OBE, London's Deputy Mayor for Culture and the Creative Industries, said:
“Culture has the power to bring people of all backgrounds together and the Mayor’s Cultural Impact Awards will do just that. Our boroughs are bursting with creativity and this year’s winners will celebrate, entertain and inspire.
“I’m delighted Barnet will pay tribute to their heritage through Light and Flight, a spectacular programme bringing together artists, communities and local stories. There is so much for residents and visitors to enjoy, helping us continue to build a better London for everyone.”
Light and Flight will bring together a range of artistic, heritage and community-led activity, including:
- The Postcard Project, alongside the RAF Museum London, inviting residents to share positive stories about their neighbourhoods
- Spotlights: Pioneering Stories, an animation project in collaboration with Middlesex University, illuminating the stories of people who have moved to the borough
- Grown Up in Barnet, with the Museum of Youth Culture, gathering intergenerational stories to create a living archive
- Community Heritage Grants supporting locally-led projects
- A new Barnet Heritage Trail connecting the borough east to west, weaving together neighbourhoods, green spaces and overlooked histories
- A new commission with artsdepot on creativity and well-being which will culminate in performances
Light and Flight will culminate in a free, multi-day arts and heritage festival this November, with a collective moment of art, music, storytelling, food and fun. The creative centrepiece of the finale will be the launch of a major new artwork.
Stuart McLeod, Director of England – London & South at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “Barnet’s recognition as part of the Cultural Impact Awards is fantastic news.
“Light and Flight will shine a spotlight on the borough’s rich and varied heritage, bringing communities together and strengthening local pride.”
“Thanks to National Lottery players, we’re delighted to support a vibrant programme of events and community grants that will help share Barnet’s untold stories and unlock the full potential of its heritage.”
There are three Cultural Impact Awards taking place across London. Alongside Barnet, Greenwich and Merton are also hosting borough-wide programmes throughout 2026, with all three boroughs collaborating on key elements. Greenwich will put young people in the driver’s seat. A new paid steering group of 24 people aged 13–30 will name, design and deliver the Cultural Impact Award programme and gain real-world skills from industry experts. Merton is staging Start of the Line, a new festival spotlighting local talent alongside national legends. Merton has also launched a grants scheme, artists residencies and has more to unveil.
Find out more at lightandflight.co.uk, which will be updated as Light and Flight develops across 2026.
ENDS
Notes to Editors
As part of the launch, Light and Flight introduces a new visual identity and dedicated microsite, which will act as a central point of engagement for the programme. The site outlines the programme’s ambition and structure and will be updated as new announcements are made throughout the year.
About the London Borough of Culture and Cultural Impact Awards
Cultural Impact Awards are part of London Borough of Culture, a Mayor of London initiative. They are awarded to transformative creative projects that bring about a positive impact on local communities and a step change in local policies and strategies. The aim is to bring Londoners together, celebrating the unique and diverse culture and heritage of our boroughs.
Barnet, Greenwich and Merton have received Cultural Impact Awards for ambitious cultural projects in 2026 that will led by local artists and draw visitors from across the city and beyond.
So far, London Borough of Culture has engaged over 3m people in person and online, created over 25,000 opportunities for young people, leveraged more than £22.2m funding, involved 5,100 artistic partners, over 5,000 volunteers, and 569 schools.
About The National Lottery Heritage Fund
Our vision is for heritage to be valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future. That’s why as the largest funder for the UK’s heritage we are dedicated to supporting projects that connect people and communities to heritage, as set out in our strategic plan, Heritage 2033. Heritage can be anything from the past that people value and want to pass on to future generations. We believe in the power of heritage to ignite the imagination, offer joy and inspiration, and to build pride in place and connection to the past.
Over the next 10 years, we aim to invest £3.6billion raised for good causes by National Lottery players to make a decisive difference for people, places and communities.
Follow @HeritageFundUK on Twitter/X, Facebook and Instagram and use #NationalLottery #HeritageFund
Contacts:
Robbie Hurley, Barnet Council News and Social Media Manager Robbie.Hurley@Barnet.gov.uk
Kate McBride, Barnet Council Arts & Culture Project Content Coordinator
Kate.McBride@Barnet.gov.uk