Cultural Strategy Group
The Cultural Strategy Group for London (to give its full title) was a public body which existed at London's City Hall between May 2000 and July 2004, established under authority of the U.K. Parliament. Part of the Greater London Authority structure of government which oversees London and with a membership selected and appointed by London's first elected Mayor, Ken Livingstone.
CSG, as it was sometimes abbreviated, was empowered to draft a cultural strategy for the city which encompassed culture, media, sport, arts, heritage and tourism.
In 2004 City Hall published what was effectively the world's first ever integrated cultural plan for a capital city - The Mayor's Culture Strategy - one which took into account considerations such as transport, policing, spatial development, the economy and the environment. The document and those who worked on it have influenced cultural planning and thinking elsewhere in the U.K. and abroad.
The body disbanded following the delivery of their strategy document - and has been succeeded by the London Creative Consortium in the Autumn of 2004
'Members of the Mayor's Cultural Strategy Group for London':
Esrah Ahmed Bangladeshi writer, active in dance, music and club culture
aladin - (Co/Vice Chair 2000-4) - Magician, interdisciplinary artist, social practitioner, strategist; founder alkhemi, Chair EntelechyArts.
Chinedu Aniedobe Arts and entertainments manager, comedy promoter, qualified youth and community worker
Yasmin Anwar - (Chair 2000-2) Commissioning Editor Multicultural, Channel Four T.V.
Jennette Arnold - (Chair 2002-4) - London Assembly Member, Member of the London Regional Council of the Arts Council of England, Trustee of Sadlers Wells Theatre Foundation, Mayor's cabinet advisor for Culture
Wozzy Brewster Director, The Midi Music Company, Deptford, Acting Chair of London Youth Arts Network
Cllr Lyn Brown Chair of Local Government Association Cultural Services Executive, Chair of the London Libraries Development Agency, member of London Sports Board, Cabinet member for Culture & Community at Newham Council
Cllr Raj Chandarana Chair of ALG Grants Committee, member of Croydon Council
Maya Even Broadcaster, Governor of the South Bank Centre
Piers Gough Architect, English Heritage Commissioner, member of the English Heritage London Advisory Committee, CABE, Artangel Gallery and AA Trustee. CBE. RA
Sally Hamwee London Assembly Member. A solicitor specialising in music and media law
Bob Harris Regional Advisor, Regeneration, University of Greenwich, Chair Tour East, Member London Tourist Board. Chair Emergency Exit Arts, United Arts Village. Cultural activist, guerrilla and vision maker.
Paul Hopper Chief Executive of London Tourist Board/Visit London
Elizabeth Howlett London Assembly Member
Nicolas Kent Artistic Director, Tricycle Theatre and Cinema, Member of London Arts Council
Ben Knowles Music writer and broadcaster
Diane Henry Lepart Merchant banker, Director of African-Caribbean Westminster Business Initiative
Yvonne Marson Former England netball player, adviser to Sport England (London), and Senior Officer for Youthsport London
Belinda Sosinowicz Director of the Trust Arts Project (an arts and health service), steering group member of the London Forum for Arts in Healthcare
Richard Sumray Director and Chief Executive of London International Sport, member of the Board of the London Youth Games, and the London Sports Board
Mike Weber Archaeologist, Museum of London
'Official observers': Lady Sue Woodford Hollick Chair, London Arts
Jack Amos South East Region TUC
'GLA Cultural Strategy Staff': Emma St Giles (2002+) Mayor's Advisor, Cultural Strategy
Graham Hitchen (2000-2) Head of Culture
Lola Young (2002-4) Head of Culture
Rosy Greenlees Cultural Strategy Manager
Adam Leibowitz Cultural Strategy Admin
Claudia Webbe (2000-2) Mayor's Advisor, Cultural Strategy