Cultural Strategy Group

The Cultural Strategy Group for London (to give its full title) was a public body which existed at London's City Hall between May 2000 and July 2004, established under authority of the U.K. Parliament. Part of the Greater London Authority structure of government which oversees London and with a membership selected and appointed by London's first elected Mayor, Ken Livingstone.

CSG, as it was sometimes abbreviated, was empowered to draft a cultural strategy for the city which encompassed culture, media, sport, arts, heritage and tourism.

In 2004 City Hall published what was effectively the world's first ever integrated cultural plan for a capital city - The Mayor's Culture Strategy - one which took into account considerations such as transport, policing, spatial development, the economy and the environment. The document and those who worked on it have influenced cultural planning and thinking elsewhere in the U.K. and abroad.

The body disbanded following the delivery of their strategy document - and has been succeeded by the [[London Creative Consortium] ] in the Autumn of 2004

'Members of the Mayor's Cultural Strategy Group for London':

Esrah Ahmed Bangladeshi writer, active in dance, music and club culture

aladin - (Co/Vice Chair 2000-4) - Magician, interdisciplinary artist, social practitioner, strategist; founder alkhemi, Chair EntelechyArts.

Chinedu Aniedobe Arts and entertainments manager, comedy promoter, qualified youth and community worker

Yasmin Anwar - (Chair 2000-2) Commissioning Editor Multicultural, Channel Four T.V.

Jennette Arnold - (Chair 2002-4) - London Assembly Member, Member of the London Regional Council of the Arts Council of England, Trustee of Sadlers Wells Theatre Foundation, Mayor's cabinet advisor for Culture

Wozzy Brewster Director, The Midi Music Company, Deptford, Acting Chair of London Youth Arts Network

Cllr Lyn Brown Chair of Local Government Association Cultural Services Executive, Chair of the London Libraries Development Agency, member of London Sports Board, Cabinet member for Culture & Community at Newham Council

Cllr Raj Chandarana Chair of ALG Grants Committee, member of Croydon Council

Maya Even Broadcaster, Governor of the South Bank Centre

Piers Gough Architect, English Heritage Commissioner, member of the English Heritage London Advisory Committee, CABE, Artangel Gallery and AA Trustee. CBE. RA

Sally Hamwee London Assembly Member. A solicitor specialising in music and media law

Bob Harris Regional Advisor, Regeneration, University of Greenwich, Chair Tour East, Member London Tourist Board. Chair Emergency Exit Arts, United Arts Village. Cultural activist, guerrilla and vision maker.

Paul Hopper Chief Executive of London Tourist Board/Visit London

Elizabeth Howlett London Assembly Member

Nicolas Kent Artistic Director, Tricycle Theatre and Cinema, Member of London Arts Council

Ben Knowles Music writer and broadcaster

Diane Henry Lepart Merchant banker, Director of African-Caribbean Westminster Business Initiative

Yvonne Marson Former England netball player, adviser to Sport England (London), and Senior Officer for Youthsport London

Belinda Sosinowicz Director of the Trust Arts Project (an arts and health service), steering group member of the London Forum for Arts in Healthcare

Richard Sumray Director and Chief Executive of London International Sport, member of the Board of the London Youth Games, and the London Sports Board

Mike Weber Archaeologist, Museum of London

'Official observers': Lady Sue Woodford Hollick Chair, London Arts

Jack Amos South East Region TUC

'GLA Cultural Strategy Staff': Emma St Giles (2002+) Mayor's Advisor, Cultural Strategy

Graham Hitchen (2000-2) Head of Culture

Lola Young (2002-4) Head of Culture

Rosy Greenlees Cultural Strategy Manager

Adam Leibowitz Cultural Strategy Admin

Claudia Webbe (2000-2) Mayor's Advisor, Cultural Strategy

Internal links

 * London Creative Consortium
 * Arts and Heritage Group APPG

External links'

 * 1) London Mayor's Cultural Strategy Group
 * 2) The Mayor's Culture Strategy
 * 3) London Creative Consortium