Interview: Anna Casey on Culture Mile and Hunt & Darton’s Radio Local
We caught up with Culture Mile
Tell us about Culture Mile. What’s it all about?
Culture Mile is a local transformation project run by 5 core partners, City of London, Barbican, Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London Symphony Orchestra and Museum of London.
Working together, alongside local people, businesses and network partners, the project aims to bringing the area of the City between Farringdon & Moorgate to life with imaginative collaborations and exciting events.
How are Hunt & Darton keeping the mile alive during lockdown with Radio Local?
They’re keeping us connected and shining a light on all different aspects of the City right now.
On any given show, you can expect to hear from local residents from all over the Mile as newsreaders, food critics, teachers, poets, DJs and more. The show gives local businesses a platform to showcase what they do and how they are coping in this current situation – they’ve featured everything from a live broadcast from Club Gascon’s kitchen to a coffee making lesson with Redemption Roasters.
They’ve also featured some of the amazing work going on across the City to support residents, from mental health support to food banks. You might also hear something about the area’s amazing past from a passionate local history buff!
Basically it’s a celebration of everything that makes the area special, as told by the people who make it so!
What are your tips to check out in Culture Mile when it’s safe to and are there any more ways to engage remotely?
The core partners of course have amazing programmes of activity that will gradually be opening back up as and when it’s safe to.
In the meantime, there’s loads going on remotely that you can engage with:
- https://www.barbican.org.uk/read-watch-listen
- https://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/museum-london
- https://lso.co.uk/whats-on/alwaysplaying.html
- https://www.gsmd.ac.uk/
We are also working on a few other projects offline, such as Play Packs – creative packs of activities and materials being shared with families via local community centres, food banks, resident groups etc.
What are some of your favourite haunts around London in and outside Culture Mile?
I have developed a dangerous Yard Sale Pizza habit during lockdown, but I think Morito on Hackney Road is my fave place to eat.
When things open back up, I’m really looking forward to seeing live music again in venues like MOTH Club & Shacklewell Arms, and having a pint in the Chesham Arms.
Around Culture Mile, there are all the amazing restaurants on Whitecross Street, like Kennedy’s Fish & Chips and Pham Sushi (lots of which are still doing takeaway!), and when we’re allowed to go dancing again, there’s fabric!
Discover more about Culture Mile
I am Joint Editor at To Do List. I like free, cheap & offbeat London, especially: cabaret, art, theatre, pop-ups, eating out, quirky films, museums, day trips, social enterprise & much more.
