Last week Croydon celebrated the reopening of its iconic Fairfield Halls after a multi-million pound refurbishment. The benefits of this ambitious council project – the first phase in the development of a new cultural quarter for Croydon – extend far beyond the building. It represents a major investment in culture, putting it firmly at the heart of Croydon's regeneration.

Already, this investment has attracted leading national and local arts organisations to the venue, creating unprecedented opportunities for our community to experience and participate in the arts. The UK's premiere black theatre company, Talawa and inclusive Savvy Theatre Company, will join resident orchestra LMP, and orchestras-in-partnership the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and Chineke! Orchestra to offer a richly diverse programme that truly reflects 21^st century Croydon. For the first time, Fairfield Halls will be a production centre where new work is created, with education at its core. Through initiatives such as the council-led cultural internships programme, the Yamaha Music School and the Phoenix Academy, Fairfield will train the next generations of musicians, actors and theatre leaders, while offering opportunities to all through outreach work. We will work in close partnership with operators BH Live, whose social enterprise model means a year-round programme of free entertainment in the foyer is funded by commercial activities at the venue, ensuring Fairfield Halls is open to all.