Top creative director appointed to boost City’s leisure offer
Leading creative director Tania Harrison has been recruited by the City of London Corporation to develop its new flagship leisure programme, Destination City.
She will play a pivotal role in delivering Destination City’s major events series, the first of which is planned for Saturday 15 October.
The spectacular free event will transform the City of London’s streets with a huge programme of theatre, games, and performance.
Featuring over 100 performers, the family-friendly highlights include a mass treasure hunt, 16 doors into a ‘maze’ of adventures, three carnival-inspired fairs, and creative street theatre.
Tania joins the City Corporation as Destination City Programme Curator.
Her award-winning experience includes devising the arts format and concept for the 40,000-audience Latitude festival.
She has also played a leading role in high-profile events including the 200,000-capacity Reading and Leeds music festivals; Pimm’s Summerfest, and U.S. Guinness Fleadh.
Beyond music, Tania has developed projects and productions for Phil McIntyre Live, Tortoise Media, Fora Space Ltd, West End and regional theatre touring shows, and live and digital events.
She has had consultancy roles for the Melbourne Arts Festival, Barbican and Secret Cinema.
Her trustee roles include: Director, Shoreditch Town Hall, 2019 to date; Director, Dance Umbrella, London Dance Festival, 2015 to date; Director, Les Enfants Terribles theatre company, 2012 to date; and RSA Fellow, 2013 to date.
City of London Corporation Policy Chairman, Chris Hayward, said:
"I am delighted to welcome someone with Tania’s talent and experience to this pivotal role, which will be key in helping shape the future of the City’s leisure offer.
“At the heart of our vision is an ambition to make the Square Mile even more enticing and create places where all generations can come together.
“With our £2.5 million annual investment, Destination City will power the Square Mile’s pandemic recovery, revitalise our streets, and maximise our attractiveness to talent.”
Tania Harrison said:
“I am thrilled to be helping to create something truly special in the City.
“It is a tremendous opportunity to build upon the historic foundations of the Square Mile with the many voices, venues and businesses which not only resonate here in London, but across the world.
“The City’s stories are deep and wide, and I look forward to cementing its status as a world-leading destination that is fresh and innovative.”
In June, the City Corporation announced it is recruiting New West End Company marketing lead, Luciana Magliocco, as the Director to oversee Destination City.
She will have the support of a new City Envoy Network of leading arts, retail, and hospitality specialists, who are providing a new voice for tourism at the heart of the City Corporation.
ENDS
About the City of London Corporation
The City of London Corporation is the governing body of the Square Mile dedicated to a vibrant and thriving City, supporting a diverse and sustainable London within a globally-successful UK. www.cityoflondon.gov.uk
About Chris Hayward
Throughout his career Chris Hayward has worked in the construction, aviation, infrastructure, and global events management sectors.
He is currently a Director at leading communications agency JBP, a Director at professional services consulting firm WSP in the UK and Director of Hayward Properties Limited.
He is a former Deputy Leader of Hertfordshire and Dorset County Councils.
As Policy Chairman, he effectively operates as the political Leader of the City Corporation. City Envoy Network membership
The following leading individuals and organisations across a range of sectors have agreed to become the first members of the City Envoy Network:
- Sharon Ament, Director, Museum of London
- Gareth Banner, GM, The Ned
- Brian Fenty, CEO, TodayTix
- Will Gompertz, Artistic Director, Barbican
- Catriona Henderson, Regional Head, Workplace Operations, Bloomberg
- Claire Irvin, travel expert
- Alice Keown, Leasing Director, British Land
- Tom Marchant, Co-Founder, Black Tomato
- Joe McTaggart, CEO, Walls & Futures
- Rebecca Matthews, Director ARoS Aarhus Art Museum and Advisory Board Member, UK City of Culture 2025