Boris Johnson was joined at the Tower of London today by the GLA’s Director of Cultural Policy Munira Mirza and Wesley Kerr, Chairman of the London Committee for the Heritage Lottery Fund for the official launch of The Story of London.
Promoted by the Greater London Authority, with additional funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund, the month long season seeks to celebrate London’s past, present and future, with around 400 events covering history, architecture, art, music, theatre and film.
Audio: Munira Mirza on The Story of London
Speaking this morning Mayor Johnson said: “’History is not just about great kings and queens, or the wars that have brought tragedy and change to our city. It’s about a student being inspired by the work of a fashion designer, or an architectural movement. Or a young person being encouraged to take up an instrument as a result of discovering a piece of music. It’s also about the enduring influence of new migrants on its cultural life and its dynamism as a city.”
“We don’t just learn from experience, we learn from the study of what has gone before – even if we don’t always avoid the mistakes of our forebears. The Story of London is a celebration and an exploration – get out, go exploring, find out more about this greatest of cities.”
In recent days there have been criticisms about the accuracy of information on the season’s website and some critics say many of the events would have taken place without any GLA involvement.
For more information on events near you visit www.london.gov.uk/storyoflondon.
