Ahead of Universal Music relocating its London HQ to Kings Cross in 2018, owner Vivendi will host a cross-cultural festival in the area later this year.
The inaugural event, titled Le Crossing, will take place in October at London’s Granary Square (pictured) in partnership with art school Central Saint Martins.
Existing to celebrate French and British creative talent, it’s expected to become an annual festival.
Alongside live music performances from UK and French artists, fashion shows, gastronomy, films and live TV interviews will take place.
Details of the event were revealed after a visit to Vivendi’s headquarters in Paris by London’s Mayor, Sadiq Khan.
Vivendi employs around 1,700 people in the UK across Universal Music Group, Studiocanal, Dailymotion, Gameloft and See Tickets, generating revenues of €750 million in the country.
Universal Music UK signed a long-term lease for the entire office space in Four Pancras Square, London in 2015.
The switch will see the major label exit High Street Kensington, where Sony Music and Warner Music also have their UK HQs.
Both Universal Music and Universal Music Publishing’s teams are expected to move into the 177,000 sq ft King’s Cross office before early 2018.
Universal Music, which will take all ten floors of the office, will have global media firm Havas next door in Three Pancras Square with Google, Louis Vuitton and PRS for Music, amongst many others, as their near-neighbours around the square.
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