Agenda item

To consider a report from the Chief Officer, Culture and Economy setting out the cultural offer in Leeds, highlighting its value to the city in terms of health and well-being and wider economic benefit, setting out the role culture can play in recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic and highlighting the significant milestone and linked opportunities for Leeds that will arise from the Year of Culture in 2023.

The Chief Officer, Culture and Economy submitted a report to present an initial session on Leeds 2023 for the Board. It set out the aims, ambitions and opportunities that Leeds 2023 would create for Leeds in terms of recovery after the pandemic and the wider ambition around ‘putting Leeds on the map’.

In attendance for this item were:

·  Cllr Debra Coupar- Executive Member for Resources

·  Cllr Jonathan Pryor – Executive Member for Economy, Culture and Education

·  Eve Roodhouse – Chief Officer Culture and Economy

·  Kully Thiarai – Creative Director and CEO Leeds 2023

·  Abigail Scott – Director of External Relations Leeds 2023

The Board was shown a presentation which included:

·  Benefits of culture and its impact on the economy

·  The DCMS work on positive outcomes of people engaging in culture on their health.

·  2020 Cultural Cities inquiry which was undertaken in December 2020.

·  The trends and opportunities for culture post Covid 19 Pandemic.

·  Back-ground history of Leeds 2023 including city-wide consultation in 2015 through to 2018 where 700 people attended a meeting of full Council.

·  The Grant agreement and the Governance for Leeds 2023.

Members were also shown a short video as a promotional tool call ‘Letting Culture Loose’ 

The Board were informed of the following points:

·  Leeds 2023 will raise the profile of the city both nationally and internally and aims to work with partners to provide an extraordinary and memorable year for all.

·  Impact on the city would be to:

o  encourage economic growth,

o  raise social and cultural awareness

o  provide opportunities for jobs,

o  inspire children and young people,

o  improve wellbeing and social cohesion,

o  attract additional visitors and investment to the city

o  increase knowledge on the history and heritage of Leeds

o  Collaborative work and inclusivity

·  So far £1.5m additional investment has been secured and 65 artists have been commissioned.

·  A project called My World, My City, My Neighbourhood looks to work with 23 artists in 23 wards.

·  Leeds 2023 will also look to create links with international artists.

·  Funding has also been secured from British Council.

Cllr Pryor said that Leeds 2023 was exciting and would be beneficial for the city in health and wellbeing, investment in the city, creation of new job opportunities and getting children and young people into culture would benefit their future lives.

Member’s discussions included:

·  A need for cultural events not only to be in the city centre but also to be in the local communities, events need to cover all 33 wards

·  Where possible for events to be free and easily accessible for all.

·  Programme for all schools, Members wished to be kept informed of what was happening in schools.

·  The Board were of the view that links needed to be in relation to access of cultural events and health and wellbeing. The Board was informed that as part of the strategy the council would adopt social progress measures to look at the impact of culture on health and wellbeing.

·  Members were keen to get the message out about Leeds 2023 and the events to all areas of the city and ensure that all the community groups across the city were included. It was suggested that as part of Leeds 2023 should include the different cultures, groups and communities which make up the diverse population of Leeds. It was noted that Yorkshire Evening Post were including a section called ‘Hello Leeds’ which would highlight events in Leeds. Work was ongoing with tourism partners to address how events would be promoted.

·  The Leeds 2023 Team need to speak with ward councillors to ensure that they know of all the events that are already happening in the 33 wards so that these events can be incorporated into Leeds 2023 and so that all residents in all communities had the chance to be part of Leeds 2023.

·  More information was needed in relation to what job opportunities there will be and whether these will on a temporary or permanent basis. It was noted that a report would be circulated which showed the impact on cities such as Hull in relation to the creation of job opportunities. It was recognised that jobs would not just be created in culture but also bars and restaurants which are crucial to recovery after the pandemic. It was also noted that the economic boost needed to go beyond 2023. 

·  Members were of the view that Leeds 2023 needed to be proactive in working with key stakeholders in relation to tourism to increase visitors to the city. It was noted that work was already ongoing with partners and were actively looking to work with more partners.

·  Members were keen to see Kirkgate Market included as part of Leeds 2023. It was acknowledged that footfall had increased since the pandemic, but work would continue to try to increase footfall.

·  The Board encouraged the Team to contact them in relation to the history and heritage of local areas and for this type of information to be included as part of Leeds 2023.

·  Concerns were raised in relation to pricing of events and that cost of some events may price out people if they were too expensive. It was recognised that Leeds 2023 Team also need to look at how funding for cultural events moved forward after 2023. It was acknowledged that Community Committees supported local events. However, funding for Community Committees had been reduced. It was noted that in some areas of the city, that have Parish and Town Councils, Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) may provide more funding. The Board noted that work was ongoing in relation to long term funding.

·  Access to events was also raised as a concern. It was suggested that public transport be subsidised so that as many people as possible could access all events. It was noted that discussions were ongoing with public transport.

·  Members had noted that new sponsors had been found and welcomed the news that discussions were ongoing to make links with other partners not just in Leeds but nationally to businesses that had links with the city.

RESOLVED – To:

a)  Note and provide comments on the information provided in the submitted report; and

b)  Feedback on the plans for the refresh and delivery of the city’s Cultural Strategy, including Leeds2023 as a significant milestone in the city’s social and economic recovery.

Cllrs Firth and Chapman arrived at 10:45am during this item.