Council reaches outwards ‘to make city a truly global player’
A MAJOR consultation on a new cultural masterplan has been launched in Leeds which it is hoped will become “an agent of change” to champion creativity – and make the city a truly global economic player.
The new Cultural Strategy 2017-2030 is considered vital to the city’s European Capital of Culture bid for 2023, but also to stimulating change in all areas of life, including addressing poverty, housing, transport and regeneration.
And its authors at Leeds City Council believe it is time to start highlighting what the city can offer on a global stage.
The draft document emphasises the need for the city to champion its cultural offer as its “greatest export”, adding that “our international reach is undersold, our national profile is low, and our voice has often been timid”.
“Our relationship with our northern counterparts has been often more of competition than companionship,” the draft document says. “It is time for Leeds to look beyond its borders and be generous with the opportunities at its disposal. We must open our city up and invite the world to join us in Leeds.”
The council has now launched a six-week consultation asking people to have their say on the expansive document, ahead of its final adoption in July.
The leader of Leeds City Council, Coun Judith Blake, said: “This consultation is about gathering views on a draft strategy which we believe reflects the culturally diverse and creative city Leeds is, so we really want to hear from as many people as possible in our communities.
“The aim has been to work with the people of Leeds to make the draft strategy something new, unique and truly representative. We’ve done that by actively involving residents and organisations so that it includes the voices and ideas of people from all different backgrounds.
“We now want to know if this draft strategy will be the spark that ignites a whole new exciting conversation about what culture means to Leeds.”