Meet the Haringey Unearthed Round 2 awardees

Haringey Unearthed is our grant-giving programme which gives residents the power to decide which creative projects happen in our borough. Round 2 opened on 20 August and closed on 10 September 2026, and consisted entirely of Community Grants, which are one of our four Grant Tiers. Community Grants provide up to £700 to support creative projects and events that bring Haringey residents together and celebrate the people, places, stories and creativity that make our borough unique. Successful projects were ones that demonstrated both strong creative ideas and meaningful social impact. Applicants also had to show how their idea responded to the priorities and themes of our programme, like ‘Rebel Borough’ or ‘Art in Unexpected Places’. 

Unlike our other grant types, Community Grants fund events on a rolling basis, so you don’t have to wait for Haringey’s official year as London Borough of Culture in 2027 to deliver your project. In the decision-making process for Community Grants, priority is given to events which can tie in to wider celebrations in the cultural calendar (for example, observances like Disability History Month, or festivals such as Diwali, Hanukkah and Christmas). Some of these events have already happened as part of Black History Month 2026, whereas some are still to come! The panel received over 32 eligible applications this round and awarded 11 grants. Find out more about these successful projects below.

Break in Case of Burnout by Ramune Valanciute

Break in Case of Burnout is a participatory installation for UK Disability History Month exploring burnout, rest and everyday forms of care, with particular attention to the experiences of disabled and neurodivergent people. Inspired by trinket trade boxes, the work will offer a changing selection of artist-made objects for visitors to interact with or take away. Rather than treating burnout as an individual failure to overcome, the project asks what it might look like if rest, reduced capacity and sensory regulation were recognised as legitimate access needs. Participation will be optional and low-pressure: visitors will be able to simply encounter the work, take something that speaks to them, or contribute an anonymous response that can become part of the evolving installation.

Find out more about Ramune by following her on Instagram or LinkedIn.

Connecting Community Through Stories, Rhythms and Flavours by North Harringay Black Community parents collective

This project has been developed by a group of parents of Black Children at North Harringay Primary School, which was founded in response to the continuing attainment gap and the wider challenges faced by Black children and families in Haringey. At the heart of this project is storytelling, through food, music, song and performance, to celebrate local Black communities and histories. On 23 October 2026, community members shared their stories with children, shining light on often-overlooked contributions made through everyday actions and relationships, and acts of care. These Haringey stories were embedded in a joyful atmosphere with an African and Caribbean buffet and music that brought families together and strengthened a sense of belonging across generations.

Donde Cantan las Raíces (Where the Roots Sing) by Natali Castro

Dónde Cantan las Raíces is a nature-based experience for Abya Yala children and families (of Latin American heritage), providing a space to play, explore, create, connect and belong. Artist Natali Castro invites participants to step outdoors and discover the natural world through Abya Yala stories, songs, rhythms, movement, sensory exploration, creative activities, games and nature play. Children and families will be invited to share their own words, stories, songs, traditions, memories and knowledge of nature, unveiling connections between their cultural roots and the natural world. Families will have the freedom to be curious, express themselves and breathe fresh air, and crucially to speak, hear and celebrate their mother tongue. Dónde Cantan las Raíces is about belonging, identity, friendship and connection — creating a space where everyone can feel recognised and valued within their cultural heritage. 

Find out more by following Natali on Instagram.

Drawn Into Haringey: A Living Wall of Queer History by Queerlife Social

Queerlife Social presents a participatory drawing event hosted at Bruce Castle Museum & Archive. Using the museum’s LGBTQ+ archive, they will uncover stories, names and moments from Haringey’s queer past – then turn them into a collective “living wall” of drawings. No experience is needed, and all materials will be provided.

Find out more about Queerlife Social by following them on Instagram.

Reading for Pleasure & British Rainforests by Lancasterian Primary School & Phoebe Swan

Lancasterian Primary School is bringing children, a local artist and the wider Haringey community together to create a vibrant new mural exploring environmental futures. Through a series of creative workshops in November 2026, pupils will work with Haringey-based artist Phoebe Swan to explore the textures, forms, colours and stories of trees and forests. Their ideas will inform a collaborative design that will become a large-scale painted mural in the school library. 

The project connects children’s learning about their local environment, particularly the trees and ecosystems of Bruce Castle Park, with their studies of the UK’s temperate rainforests and the wider need to protect and restore nature. It gives children an opportunity to respond creatively to the climate and biodiversity crisis, while developing their artistic skills, confidence and sense of connection to the places around them. The mural will be the centrepiece of the school’s newly refurbished library, helping to create a calm, inspiring and welcoming environment where children can read for pleasure. Children’s involvement in creating the artwork will give them a lasting sense of ownership and ensure their voices remain at the heart of this important community space. The project will also create a community pledge to protect local and national ecosystems, engaging local children, families and community members. The project will leave a lasting legacy: shared artwork, stronger connections to nature, increased participation in the arts, and a library designed to inspire children’s creativity, curiosity and love of reading.

Find out more about Lancasterian Primary School on their website or by following them on Instagram.

Find out more about Phoebe Swam on her website or by following her on Instagram.

Rebel Treble by Studio 306

Rebel Treble is a free day of creative expression and art workshops supporting mental health recovery, taking place at Studio 306 Collective CIC in Haringey on World Mental Health Day, Friday 8 October 2027. The project will offer two creative workshop sessions, with specialist tutors supporting local people to explore bead jewellery, sewing and other creative techniques using beads, buttons, textiles and recycled materials. The workshops will provide a safe, welcoming and pressure-free environment where participants can work at their own pace and express themselves creatively. No previous experience is required, and participants will be encouraged to bring their own materials to reuse and repurpose. With spaces limited to 10 people per session, the workshops will create opportunities for people with lived experience of mental health challenges to meet others, develop and rediscover creative skills, build confidence and explore new ideas. 

Studio 306 has supported people recovering from mental health challenges in Haringey for over 15 years. The project builds on this experience, using creativity and collaborative making to help participants feel more engaged, motivated and connected. For many people, the achievement of making something themselves — whether a gift for a family member or a simple piece of jewellery — can provide a sense of pride, confidence and happiness, while encouraging further participation in training, work and community activities.

Find out more about Studio 306 on their website or follow them on Instagram.

Root to Rise by Yoga with Fola

Root to Rise is a series of community yoga classes which took place at Bernie Grant Arts Centre in October 2026 as part of Black History Month. Inspired by this year’s Black History Month theme, Honouring Our Communities, Root to Rise was built on the idea that caring for ourselves and one another helps communities thrive. The series consisted of four yoga classes designed to support wellbeing, connection and community. The name Root to Rise comes from a common yoga cue that encourages people to find stability to help them grow and transform. Led by local yoga teacher, Fola Otesanya, Root to Rise was aimed at Tottenham residents who may not currently access yoga, whether that’s due to cost, a lack of representation, or just feeling that yoga isn’t for them. Root to Rise offered a welcoming and inclusive space where people could practice yoga, connect with others and prioritise their wellbeing. The project was created by and for Black and Brown residents in Tottenham but was open to all.

Find out more about Fola and her work on her website or follow her on Instagram.

Roots of the Game by Thru Life CIC

Roots of the Game is a Black History Month project by Thru Life CIC, celebrating Haringey’s connection to Caribbean heritage through football, storytelling and community. The project brought together two former professional footballers with strong roots in Haringey: Jobi McAnuff, who represented Jamaica internationally, and Andre Boucaud, who represented Trinidad & Tobago. In a special filmed conversation on 19 October 2026, Jobi and Andre reflected on their journeys through professional and international football, including the experience of competing against Lionel Messi. They explored identity, Caribbean heritage, representation, resilience, the challenges and opportunities they encountered in the game, and what it meant to represent their countries on the international stage. The conversation was filmed and shared through Thru Life CIC and partner platforms, creating a lasting record of their stories and allowing them to reach audiences beyond the event. 

Alongside the conversation, Thru Life CIC will host a free football tournament for young people aged 16–19 on 29 October 2026, creating an opportunity for the next generation to come together through sport while connecting with Black and Caribbean heritage. Roots of the Game is more than football – it is about heritage, identity, representation and inspiring the next generation through powerful stories and lived experience.

Find out more about Thru Life CIC on their website or by following them on Instagram.

Supporting Creative Businesses in Wood Green by Wood Green BID

Wood Green Business Improvement District (BID) will support local artists and creative entrepreneurs to showcase their services and products through the Wood Green Saturday Market on Lymington Avenue. The funding will enable 10 local creative entrepreneurs to trade at the market free of charge, with each business receiving support with the licensing process, a six-day trading licence and a market stall. The initiative aims to remove some of the financial barriers faced by emerging creative businesses, giving local artists, makers and creative entrepreneurs the opportunity to showcase their work, reach new customers and test their products in a busy town-centre environment. It will also bring more arts, crafts and cultural activity to Wood Green, helping to create a more vibrant and diverse market, attract new audiences and encourage visitors to spend more time in the town centre. The project builds on the success of creative businesses already participating in the market and will help demonstrate the potential for developing a stronger and more sustainable creative offer in Wood Green.

Find out more about Wood Green BID on their website or follow them on Instagram, Facebook or LinkedIn.

The Friends of Marcus Garvey Library Group Presents: A Series of Talks

In partnership with Marcus Garvey Library and Bruce Castle Museum, this project will deliver four events at Marcus Garvey Library during this year's Black History Month and beyond. The programme included the sold-out talk given by Stafford Scott on 3 October 2026, building on the acclaimed War Inna Babylon exhibition at the ICA, and upcoming talks from young designer Rebeckah Kemi Apara on Tottenham’s pioneering textile artist and designer Althea McNish, Caribbean actor and author Paterson Joseph on his children's book Ten Children Who Changed the World, and social commentator, and campaigner and cultural historian Sir Patrick Vernon on the Windrush campaign and scandal, considering what individuals and communities can learn from this period of Black history and how similar injustices can be prevented in the future.

The Tactile Tea Break by Rachel Spungin and Maya Kurdoğlu

Marking UK Disability History Month, artists Rachel Spungin and Maya Kurdoğlu present two free, bilingual (English/Turkish) workshops which are designed to be accessible for blind and partially sighted visitors. Participants will explore art hands-on, drawing through sensation and creating a textile piece to take home. There will be two workshops, one for adults on Tuesday 17 November, and an intergenerational one for families on Saturday 21 November 2026. 

Find out more about Maya on her website or by following her on Instagram.

Find out more about Rachel on her website or by following her on Instagram.

Rachel Spungin ve Maya Kurdoğlu ile Dokunsal Çay Molası

Birleşik Krallık Engelliler Tarihi Ayı kapsamında, sanatçılar Rachel Spungin ve Maya Kurdoğlu, görme engelli ve az gören ziyaretçiler için erişilebilir olacak şekilde tasarlanmış iki ücretsiz, çift dilli (İngilizce/Türkçe) atölye sunuyor. Katılımcılar sanatı uygulamalı olarak keşfedecek, duyular aracılığıyla çizim yapacak ve evlerine götürebilecekleri bir tekstil eser oluşturacaklar. Biri 17 Kasım Salı günü yetişkinler için, diğeri ise 21 Kasım Cumartesi günü ailelere yönelik nesiller arası olmak üzere iki atölye düzenlenecek.

Maya hakkında daha fazla bilgiye web sitesinden veya Instagram hesabından ulaşabilirsiniz.

Rachel hakkında daha fazla bilgiye web sitesinden veya Instagram hesabından ulaşabilirsiniz.

Round 3 applications open on 23 November 2026, with Community, Small, Emerging and Legacy Grants all available. Find out more and apply.