Agenda item

Nikki Parker, Director of Transformation, to present the attached strategy.

Nicky Parker, Director of Transformation attended the meeting to present the newly launched Culture Strategy. 

Nicky Parker reported that the purpose of the strategy is to use culture to help drive the economy, meet the Let’s Do It Strategy around economic growth and lower than average levels of deprivation and to ensure that culture in focused within the place-based approach in each neighbourhood. Nicky Parker advised the need to strengthen statutory duties and to develop cultural assets within the borough. The strategy provides a framework to secure and maximise our investments in culture and it sits alongside the Economic Development Strategy and the Inclusion Strategy. The 5 strategic pillars within the strategy were explained, they set out the link between the borough’s cultural identity and the heath, wellbeing and economic success of our communities. 

The priorities over the next 2 years were set out, these included strengthening capacity and leadership and developing and improving cultural assets. Nicky Parker highlighted assets that are being developed which included plans for new libraries, plans to refurbish the Bury Arts Museum, a new leisure centre in Radcliffe, supporting physical, mental, social and emotional heath through the events programme and developing the community arts programme. Nicky Parker gave examples of the events programme which included intergenerational events, access to the arts via sports and working with partners and businesses. The events programme will be diverse and will focus on reducing social isolation, promoting wellbeing and being inclusive. Nicky Parker reported on grants and funding that were available and explained how fundraising is key to the strategy.

Helen Tomlinson, VCFA explained how they plan to engage some smaller voluntary and community organisations and bring in partners from faith organisations who may contribute to the culture strategy. The work will enable us to look at different approaches to investment and grants, working as an alliance model and collaboratively sharing skills and maximising social values. A by-product of the Culture Strategy is thought to be increased volunteering, this was highlighted as bringing social value to the borough.

In response to a question around the strategy’s focus on health inequalities and the importance of focussing efforts on voices that are less heard, Nicky Parker reported that through the grants programme and the work with the VCFA, they are meeting smaller organisations and individuals. The evaluation of data is key, to ensure that the strategy is qualitive, such as finding out what it has done for social cohesion, are we making people feel less lonely, has it improved people’s mental health or have people been somewhere they has never been before.

In response to a question around the communication of the Culture Strategy, to be clear that culture is for everyone, Nicky Parker agreed that the communication should be focused around community culture.

In response to a question around mental health intervention and how to make sure the strategy is linked in with mental health plans, Nicky Parker advised she will be working with mental health providers and will be looking at ways of promoting culture, to ensure that it reaches as many people as possible. Nicky Parker reported that she will work with the new wellness teams around the cultural programmes.

In response to a question around culture reaching all parts of borough, Nicky Parker reported it is down to the grants programme to ensure it has a reach in all neighbourhoods and will commit to do this.

In response to a question around funding and grants, Nicky Parker reported that she will have to work with businesses, the voluntary sector, and other Local Authorities to explore all funding available and highlighted that David Catterall was doing some work with the bid team. David Catterall reported the work that is being done around the Food and Drinks Festival and how they are getting sponsorships to ensure that it is sustainable. They are letting the community steer what the event looks like, improving community cohesion.  Helen Tomlinson highlighted that communication and strategic oversight on any grants programme are important and it is key that it is co-designed across the public and voluntary sector.

In response to a question around linking up libraries with the early year services, Nicky Parker agreed that libraries can play a part in getting children school ready and the importance of working with colleagues in Children’s Services to join this work up.

It was agreed:

1.          That the update be noted.