Welcome to the Forest

Waltham Forest is the first ever Mayor’s London Borough of Culture. The opening show Welcome to the Forest was created in response to the themes of the year (Radicals, Makers and Fellowship). It was a unique event for all the family designed to celebrate the shared past, present and future in this much loved corner of north east London they’ve chosen to call home.

Artists Greenaway & Greenaway collaborated with Mercury Music Prize-winning musician/producer Talvin Singh OBE on the soundtrack and showcase a piece about the boroughs residents, both past and present and what the future holds. The Town Hall hosted a brand new commission from world-renowned, local electronic duo Addictive TV who presented Welcome To The Forest, a unique piece of music created by sampling audio and video of Waltham Forest’s rich and diverse musical talent.

Lloyd Park was home to Nest, a brand new commission from artists Marshmallow Laser Feast; an epic lighting installation choreographed to a transcendental soundscape created by composer Erland Cooper working with over 1,000 participants from local schools and choirs.

Walk the Plank & Gods Own Junkyard were commissioned to act as a backdrop to several street performances in the fiesta style celebration.