The Enterprise Centre at the Bernie Grant Arts Centre

Jane Lambert


The late Bernie Grant was MP for Tottenham and leader of Haringay London Borough Council. He is commemorated by the Bernie Grant Arts Centre which celebrates the "creativity of a culturally diverse population locally, nationally and internationally" and is "a catalyst for the regeneration of Tottenham." I visited the Centre last Saturday to see Ballet Black perform there. You will find my review of their performance in "Why Ballet Black are special" in Terpsichore 20 May 2013 if you are interested.

The Centre has a comfortable auditorium, the Blooming Scent Cafe run by the remarkable Gina Moffatt and an enterprise centre. According to its website:

"Enterprise Centre at the Bernie Grant Arts Centre The Bernie Grant Enterprise Centre is home to 19 young Creative Entrepreneurs each uniquely providing goods or services to public and private sector organisations, community and business groups and individual consumers. The Centre is made possible by a unique partnership between Bernie Grant Arts Centre management and The Princes Trust. Collectively, the partnership provides a supportive non-interventionist environment, in which entrepreneurial creativity can flourish. Where necessary practical bespoke business support is provided by the Centre’s Partners to assist the Centre’s residents maximise business ideas, opportunities and growth."

These include audio production and recording engineers, a DJ trainer, dressmaker, fashion designers, film and TV programme makers, greeting card producer, an osteopath and a photographer.  

There is a beautiful old cinema in Bradford which has been empty since 2000. It has been acquired recently by the local authority but it is not clear what the council will do with the building.  As Bradford is also culturally diverse, has no shortage of creative people and is in need of regeneration I suggested that it might take a leaf out of Tottenham's book in "What could be done with the Bradford Odeon" 21 May 2013 IP Yorkshire. To date the reaction has been "Who's going to pay for it?"