Challenge London FAQs

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  • What is Challenge London?

    Challenge London is a four-year joint investment programme managed by A New Direction with funds from Arts Council England.

    London’s cultural heritage, artistic and creative opportunities are rich and varied. As Londoners we can access world-class and cutting edge experiences in concert halls, arenas, parks and streets. However, we’re also a city with challenges of inequality, and we know that not everyone always feels empowered to shape culture and be involved with the breadth of opportunities available.

    Through Challenge London we will invest £1.1m in partnership work in London between 2018 and 2022, to move towards our ambition of all young people being able to develop their creativity and play an active part in the culture and heritage of the city. For every £1 we invest, we’ll ask a partner investor to contribute another £1, doubling the pot.

  • What issues will Challenge London address?

    A New Direction have identified six key areas we think affect young people’s capacity to be creative in our city. These represent the starting point for Challenge London. They are:

      • Fairness
      • Wellbeing
      • Influence and power
      • New London
      • Preparing for work
      • Pressures on institutions

    You can find more about the focus and underlying evidence for these themes here.

    In identifying these themes, we have started from a range of reports and documentation, and our experience of working with young people and those professionals supporting them in London.

  • Who is involved with Challenge London?

    A New Direction is the lead organisation for Challenge London and seed financial support from Arts Council England is in place. Organisations are invited to become part of the Challenge by proposing, developing and delivering programmes and interventions which would help further the aims of the programme over the medium to long-term.

    A New Direction works alongside a Challenge Group and Young Challenge Group to steer the programme and help us make investment decisions.

  • I’d be interested to work as a strategic partner in the Challenge, how can I get in touch?

    We’d love to hear from other organisations who offer investment and whose work connects with ours. Please get in touch at challengelondon@anewdirection.org.uk to discuss opportunities to work together.

  • How can I get more information about Challenge London?

    Follow us on Twitter: ‪@A_New_Direction

    Sign up to our newsletter: anewdirection.org.uk/newsletter

    Email: challengelondon@anewdirection.org.uk

  • How can I find out about programmes that received investment between 2015 and 2018?

    Between 2015 and 2018 A New Direction invested almost £900,000 in initiatives through our London Cultural Education Challenge. You can find out more about the London Cultural Education Challenge and the programmes in which we invested here.