11 Dec “Destination Finsbury Park” Takes Shape with Community Led Creative Workshop

Andrew Paschalis, Senior Local Economy Officer for Finsbury Park Ward and Town Centre, stated:  “Destination Finsbury Park”is officially a go and the transformation is already underway.

Thanks to a successful UK Shared Prosperity Fund bid, the first phase of the community-driven programme to enhance the Finsbury Park Town Centre launched this past week, bringing together residents, artists and local businesses to shape the future look and feel of our neighbourhood.

The investment will deliver:

• 104 lamppost banners co-designed with local businesses, spanning the entire Town Centre.
• 19 beautiful new trees, bringing fresh greenery to the ward.
• 2 large community murals, designed collaboratively with local residents.

These improvements are only the beginning of our long-term commitment to making Finsbury Park a more vibrant, welcoming, and representative place.

On Saturday and Sunday, the fantastic Lydia Rose, founder of Allie’s Art Club, led two lively mural co-design sessions with Finsbury Park residents. The workshops marked the first public step in turning community ideas into public art.

The sessions were filled with energy, creativity, and connection. One of the standout moments was the pride residents felt knowing their ideas would directly shape the final murals. In just two days, a real camaraderie formed.

On 10th December, Beth Davy-Day, Creative Director at Fashion-Enter Ltd / FC Designer Workspace, attended an interactive co-design workshop at the London Fashion Centre on Fonthill Road. Local businesses came together to share their stories, experiences, and creative visions for the eight new lamppost banners that will represent:

• Fashion
• Food
• Coworking
• Community

Participants contributed to a truly collaborative design process. Their input will influence not only the initial eight banners but also the broader suite of 104 banners that will brighten the full Town Centre.

The project spans key local streets: Fonthill Road, Wells Terrace, Durham Road, Seven Sisters Road, Stroud Green Road, Blackstock Road, Morris Place, and Clifton Terrace, exploring identity, culture, industry, and the everyday experiences of local traders and workers.

Workshop activities included:

• Introductions to the project
• Group discussions on local identity, culture and industry
• Visual mapping exercises
• Collaborative artmaking and sharing

Finsbury Park is an incredible place, full of talent, diversity, and community spirit, but it often receives more bad press than it deserves. This project is about changing that narrative by putting residents and local businesses at the heart of shaping their neighbourhood.