Agenda item

To receive and consider the attached report of the Chief Officer (Culture and Economy) with an update on the LEEDS 2023 Year of Culture. The report also provides an insight into plans for the year.

The Chief Officer Culture and Economy submitted a report to provide the Inner East Community Committee with an update on LEEDS 2023 and to gather input and support from elected members and residents.

Members were shown a presentation as an introduction to the LEEDS 2023 year of culture with a brief background which included the setting up of the Leeds Culture Trust with an independent chair, funding, scrutiny, partnership working and promotion of the year of culture.

Members were informed of the following points:

·  It is the aim of LEEDS 2023 for 75% of Leeds residents to be involved in the events. Some of the events will be free and held in all 33 wards with schools being invited to get involved. The aim is to show the diverse heritage of the city.

·  Economic research has suggested that holding this type of event will attract investment to the city particularly through retail and hospitality.

·  My LEEDS 2023 aims to empower the local communities through partnership and community working. There will be 33 Neighbourhood Hosts with one host recruited from each ward, this will be a paid role as a member of the LEEDS 2023 Team. The role will be as a connector to local residents to access and make the most of the Year of Culture. They will also play a key role in an event called the Weekender.

·  The Weekender will take place for two days in August 2023 animating every ward with neighbourhood events. The aim is to bring together the communities through events such as street parties, cook outs and mini carnivals.

·  Currently the team are holding events in wards to promote the LEEDS 2023 Year of Culture.

·  Roadshows will be taking place across 33 wards in the city. Members are encouraged to attend.

Member’s discussions included:

·  Concern that senior citizens and residents with disabilities were not included in the vision for Leeds 2023 and the presentation did not include projects for this demographic. Officers in attendance confirmed that they are working on a forum for older people, at Leeds Playhouse. Members were encouraged to provide information of groups and organisations that can feed into Leeds 2023.

·  Members were keen that the funding is shared fairly and does not focus on the city centre. Members were provided with assurances that a lot of the funding already has been prioritised for areas such as Inner East Leeds.

·  Members commented that communication should have taken place before this point, and there has been lack of publicity around events in the local area.

·  The legacy of Leeds 2023, and the longer-term view of the strategy of culture of the city. Members also queried how the success of projects are measured moving forward.

·  A suggestion was made that an update be provided to the Community Committee in 6 months on the progress of the service and events and examples be provided on how other parts of the city have progressed.

·  It was acknowledged that there was an opportunity in the cultural society for the service to work with young people and educate schools to be able to access jobs in the cultural sector.

·  The Inner East Community Committee area is made up of diverse communities and there are a number of different organisations to connect with. Members offered to attend local roadshows, to provide some information and groups to connect with.

RESOLVED – To note the contents of the report.