Issue - meetings

That:

1)         the Arts & Culture Strategy, as set out in the report, be approved:

2)              the appended Action Plan for implementing the Strategy over the coming year be noted;

3)              the establishment and role of the Arts & Culture Alliance as the key strategic partnership for implementing the Strategy be endorsed.

(Councillor Gregor Murray declared a personal interest in this item)

The Executive considered a report setting out a proposed Arts & Culture Strategy following consultation on the document.

During the introduction the Executive Member for Regeneration highlighted that Covid had demonstrated just how much people missed, in addition to other things, having arts and culture facilities in their lives and how important these were to people’s health and wellbeing.

Councillor Haitham Taylor explained that one of the reasons why the Arts & Culture Strategy had been developed was because when speaking to businesses, a few years ago, many of them were saying at that time that a number of employees were leaving to move to other areas e.g. London and Bath because they had a better, more joined up and accessible leisure offer.  Following these discussions, the Arts & Leisure Strategy was developed and taken out to consultation which led to some really interesting responses.   Councillor Haitham Taylor advised that she had been disappointed that more young people had not responded to the consultation and in future it would be good to reach out to try and gain their views, particularly those under 18.   It was noted that Overview and Scrutiny had praised the Strategy when considering it at its meeting held last month.

In addition, an Arts & Culture Alliance was set up, which was a partnership of key stakeholders i.e. cross party Members, Officers from departments across the Council, and partners from across the Borough and the different art and culture sectors to drive forward the Strategy and action plan.  Councillor Haitham Taylor thanked Officers and Robin Copse for the amount of effort they had put into developing the Strategy.  

Councillor Haitham Taylor also highlighted the six key priorities set out in the Strategy and advised that she hoped that these could be achieved within the 10 year life span of the document.  It was noted that the Action Plan would constantly evolve as new things were included and others completed.

Councillor Haitham Taylor informed the meeting about the opportunities that were being developed for children and young people including discussions being held with Artsmark on the formation of a local cultural educational partnership.

Councillor Batth stated that the BME community within the Borough had an enriched arts and culture programme, including Black History Month, Diwali festival of lights, Eid celebrations etc and asked that these be taken on board when the arts and culture programmes were being developed.  Councillor Haitham Taylor stated that she would love to embrace all these activities and would like to see more representation from the BME Forum on the Alliance.

RECOMMENDATION that:

1)         the Arts & Culture Strategy, as set out in the report, be approved:

2)              the appended Action Plan for implementing the Strategy over the coming year be noted;

3)              the establishment and role of the Arts & Culture Alliance as the key strategic partnership for implementing the Strategy be endorsed.