CULTURE AT HEART OF A VIBRANT CITY CENTRE
MULTI-MILLION pound culture and environment programmes are game changers for urban communities seeking growth. John Bullough, chairman of Perth City Development Board, says: “Our bid to become the UK City of Culture 2021 represents a significant mile- stone in the delivery of Perth’s economic and cultural renaissance,” he believes.
“The Perth City Plan is the Board’s 20-year vision to make Perth a great European city. The plan was approved unanimously by full Perth & Kinross Council in March and in June the largest capital budget in Perth’s history was approved to deliver it. Every successful European city has a strong cultural offering at its heart. We have the history, the heritage, a central location, a growing population and an expanding university and college campus. What we have lacked until now, is a clear vision on how to bring all of these together with our business community to give Perth the identity and ‘unique selling point’ it needs. Culture is the conduit.”
Helen Smout is Chief Executive at Culture Perth & Kinross, a charitable trust organisation set up by Perth & Kinross Council to deliver services with efficient focus and fund raise. It has a £3.5 million annual budget with other income of £200,000 – and rising.
Alongside 13 library buildings, CPK manages three museum and gallery spaces, Perth Museum & Art Gallery, the Fergusson Gallery, and Alyth Museum as well as Soutar House.
Smout says: “We have a sub-organisation, Perthshire Creates. It’s a network of creative practitioners: artists, designers, musicians and writers.”
Having an ‘arms-length’ structure helps CPC’s development role. “Local authorities do great public work, but they are not really set up to run visitor attractions,” she adds. “We have much more freedom to market ourselves in a way which attracts tourists and visitors.”