Have your say on region’s future culture programme
HALTON residents and organisations are being encouraged by metro mayor Steve Rotheram to become involved in shaping the Liverpool City Region’s cultural future.
The call follows the publication of a draft Cultural Strategy last week which came out of an intensive engagement with events and roadshows in the area’s six boroughs.
The draft strategy has been formulated by the Local Cultural Partnership, chaired by Phil Redmond, and creates a framework to support cultural events across the Liverpool City Region, which includes Halton.
The draft is open for further comment and feedback until February 15.
Mr Rotheram said: “Culture was included in our devolution deal because it is such an important and distinctive aspect of our identity and what unites us a region.
“Culture and creativity are integral to our international profile and brand and integral to achieving the vision for a prosperous, fair and desirable place to live, work and invest.
“We are about to experience a fantastic year to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Liverpool’s European Capital Of Culture.
“The commitment of the city, to culture, has been significant and, once again, will shine the spotlight on our city and city region.
“The strategy will build on that legacy, celebrating culture in all its aspects and reaching into and supporting creative expression in every community and borough.” ●
Key recommendations in the draft strategy include an annual grassroots awards programme to promote creativity and excellence and a ‘borough of culture’ initiative to ensure each area can host a programme of prestig- ious cultural events and celebrations.
Cllr Phil Davies, who holds the culture portfolio in the Liverpool City Region, said: “As the Combined Authority lead for economic development and culture, I have been determined to develop an ambitious, longterm strategy to enhance the culture and creative sector.
“This sector is an essential driver in stimulating creative entrepreneurialism and is also instrumental in generating substantial growth for local, regional and national economies.
“Over the last few months we have spoken to hundreds of local people, groups and organisations in the creative sector who told us what they valued about culture, what was important to them, and what their ideas were for improving what we do.
“I am proud that this ambitious draft strategy captures those views and creates an important framework for delivering our exciting plans for growing the culture and creative sector across the Liverpool City Region.
“I encourage everyone to give us their ideas through our consultation over the next couple of weeks.”
Commending the strategy, Mr Redmond emphasised the importance of culture and creativity at a time when the Liverpool City Region and the world are poised on the threshold of profound economic, social and political change.
He said: “The world is forever changing and no one is ever sure what the future will look like.
“Currently, change is probably happening at a faster pace than has ever been seen before. That is why culture is so important. It’s what binds us all together. It’s the sum of all our creativity and the catalyst for change.
“But change needs to be managed and, therefore, needs a strategy that addresses the world of work.
“In the 21st century, how will the work-life balance shift and how can culture, as the catalyst for change, help us to understand far-reaching and rapid change?
“How will it help us to become flexible and adaptable? This requires a collective act.
“To remember our shared past, present and future – our collective culture. Remember where we came from. Remember what we already have. But above all, remember that the best is yet to come.”