In June 2025, Barnet once again became a destination borough for the LFA, proudly hosting a programme of more than 50 community-led events. From walks, talks, and workshops to installations and performances, this year’s programme built on two years of active participation in the Festival and Barnet’s recognition at the New London Awards 2024 for Edgy Collective’s acclaimed project Let’s Meet on the Edge (part of LFA2023).
Being part of LFA has enabled Barnet’s vibrant network of artists, grassroots initiatives, and cultural organisations—together with residents and visitors—to come together to test ideas and reflect on how our neighbourhoods are shaped and defined. Each year, it has been a privilege to support and witness our community’s response to the annual festival theme, resulting in a rich array of creative interpretations and event formats. This year, it was also an opportunity for the council to build on its cultural footprint, aligning the Festival with its ‘There’s Art in Barnet’ and ‘Connecting Communities’ campaigns.
The 2025 theme, “Voices,” felt particularly resonant. It offered a chance to ‘hand the mic’ to our communities, amplifying the voices that make up our local urban fabric. The invitation was embraced with energy and imagination, bringing underrepresented voices to the fore—whether through events in local libraries, a cantorial performance in a synagogue, the recording of young people’s stories from a roaming DJ van, participatory performances, collage workshops, a sound installation at the landmark Phoenix Cinema and creative writing celebrating green spaces – and many more. Barnet Climate Action Month, with an events programme celebrating climate action, ran at the same time as the LFA with parallel messaging, further enriching the dialogue.
Khadra for Barnet Libraries’
Collectively, these events reflected the diversity of the borough and its residents—both human and non-human. Voices from the Woods gave voice to trees; the natural residents of East Finchley found in its many pockets of woodland – both ancient and more recently planted. Hugh Petrie, Barnet's Heritage Officer, led a well-attended four-mile tour, bringing the trees to life with a narrative rich with folklore and local history, and highlighting the role these woods play today and in future.
Aerial view of southern half of Coldfall Woods; cleared for suburban roads in 1935. Courtesy of Barnet Local Studies
Make a Sound celebrated the voices, stories and spirit of artsdepot, one of Barnet’s key cultural venues. Workshops captured the perspectives of those who shape the building not just as visitors, but as creators - from backstage technicians to young creatives to seasoned creative writers. Spontaneous vox pops, poetry, narration, and environmental recordings were woven into an immersive audio composition by sound artist Elliot Buchanan, transforming familiar spaces into a living soundscape. Says Isabelle Hetherington, Senior Creative Producer – Families and Communities at artsdepot: “This process has been an opportunity to reflect on how our shared spaces carry shared stories - and how creativity and collective voices are at the heart of it all.”
The soundscape can be experienced at artsdepot’s Heritage Exhibition from 12 September 2025, or you can listen here.
Credits:
- An audio composition by sound artist Elliot Buchanan, commissioned by artsdepot as part of the London Festival of Architecture 2025 and funded by Barnet Council.
- With thanks to the contributors: Hop Skotshne Klezmer Band, London Independent Iranian Community Artists Association, writers from our Over 55s Creative Circle, families from Groove Together: Family Dance Class, dancers from our Over 55s Dance Company, participants from the Make a Sound Workshop, dance students from London Studio Centre, artsdepot staff and volunteers, and all the incredible communities who bring our public spaces to life every day.
Make a Sound @ Arts Depot, LFa2025 (c) Nathan Piccio
The 2025 programme leaves behind more than a trail of events—it leaves a resonance of voices carried forward into the life of the borough. The stories told, the sounds captured, and the spaces reimagined remind us that our neighbourhoods are not static, but living, evolving places shaped by those who inhabit and care for them. Thank you to the LFA team for yet another wonderful festival.
"With a hyper locally focused programme, we were really excited to welcome back Barnet as a key location for LFA2025. Through the month of June, exhibitions, talks, workshops, performances and more celebrated local heritage, community voices and culture - as well as created space for newer voices to find their space within the conversation. The third year working with many individuals and organisations in the area, we’ve been able to see how the Festival can be used to bring people together to celebrate the people and places in the area as well as help inform the longer-term vision for places and spaces across the borough."
- Rosa Rogina (Director, LFA)
