This item provided an update report
from the Chief Officer, Culture and Economy setting out the role
culture can play in recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic and
highlighting the significant milestones and linked opportunities
for Leeds that will arise from the Year of Culture in
2023. This follows an item considered by
the Board in October 2021.
In attendance at the meeting were:
·
Cllr Jonathon Pryor – Deputy Leader of Council and Executive
Member for Economy, Culture and Education
- Eve
Roodhouse Chief Officer Economy & Culture
- Abigail Scott Paul Director of External Relations Leeds
2023
- Kully
Thiarai Creative Director and CEO Leeds 2023 (remote
attendance)
The Chief Officer Economy &
Culture introduced the report informing Board Members of the
following points:
- The
report aimed to respond to issues raised by Board members in
October 2021.
- The
report sets out key principles associated with Leeds 2023 and in
particular those associated with enhanced community engagement,
accessibility to all residents and geographical reach which were
features of member feedback when the item was last considered by
Strategy & Resources Scrutiny Board.
- In
addition, the report provides a focus on city readiness structures
which have been established since October 2021. This is a
significant governance development and provides the structure
through which Leeds 2023 will be delivered as 2023 nears. The key
elements of the ‘readiness structure’ are as follows;
The City Readiness Board itself (Chaired by Director of City
Development, Martin Farrinton), the Visitor Welcome and
Strategic Marketing Sub- Group (chaired by Belinda Eldridge, Head
of Service Destination Marketing and International Relations), the
Planning & Feasibility Sub-Group (chaired by Phil Evans, Chief
Officer Operations and Active Leeds) and the Young People,
Education & Skills Sub- Group (Chaired by Martyn Long, Head of
Service Employment and Skills).
- The
report also highlights how Leeds 2023 will be evaluated with
The Audience Agency and research partner Centre for Cultural Value
at the University of Leeds appointed as evaluators for Leeds
2023.
- In
addition, the latest funding and sponsorship position is provided
highlighting that £3.2m of match funding has been secured to
date.
- Kully
Thiarai also provided an update on recent and planned activity
focussing on volunteers, skills development and volunteering legacy
following Leeds 2023.
- Kully provided
details on national and international developments including an
event with the British Library to showcase activity in Leeds to
over 130 stakeholders in London with the aim of developing
fundraising opportunities and to develop creative
partnerships.
- Kully also
highlighted challenges linked to Covid-19 and its impact on
retention, recruitment and availability of staff and impacts on
community events in terms of availability of key individuals.
Despite this the aspiration remains to deliver a transformative and
ambition year of Culture in Leeds in 2023.
Responding to questions from Members, the
Board were provided with the following information:
- Linked to a query
about the 33 Community Hosts, members were informed that
recruitment to these roles will be on the Leeds 2023 website and
through the YEP as well as through outreach to communities and
through the regular updates to members that are provided by regular
update emails. In addition, members were informed that community
committees and visits to local communities will take place via
roadshows that are planned in May and June. Members were keen to
ensure that information is shared on these opportunities as widely
as possible and that communities are kept informed of plans and
activities for Leeds 2023.
- Queries were made
about how funding will be granted to local groups and application
processes. Members were informed that local organisations will be
supported in making what can be difficult funding applications
either through the Council and existing support arrangements or
through Leeds 2023 directly. A toolkit is planned to support grant
applications from community groups. The Council does have existing
support networks linked to the Arts@Leeds and Leeds Inspired
grants, these will be aligned to support Leeds 2023 and a
suggestion was made that this could be brought back to Scrutiny to
provide more detail later in the year. The Chair was keen for this
to be brought back to the successor board at an appropriate time in
2022/23. The Board wanted to ensure that Groups are supported, and
complicated application processes can be navigated by groups or
individuals with limited experience of completing grant
applications. A suggestion was made to establish workshops to
support this process that would also provide enhanced skills in the
long term for those that participate.
- Responding to queries
about well being and evaluation, members were informed that more
detail will be provided on this when the issue returns to the
Board. The Centre for Cultural Value at the University of Leeds are
currently involved in developing ways to demonstrate the value that
culture brings in well being terms.
- In terms of
participation, Leeds 2023 has a KPI of engaging with 75% of the
Leeds population and is working with partners to meet that. Key
partners include Leeds United and using the platform provided
through match days as well as working with major employers in the
city. Broadcast and media opportunities will also be used to reach
as many people as possible. Also, a key element of events will be
audience experience with an emphasis on inclusivity and
participation by removing barriers to interaction and
participation, wayfinding to ensure that events are accessible was
used as an example.
- On skills development
the board were informed of plans to ensure that culture is not
always about being ‘on stage’ but also that it features
the whole supply chain including varied roles supporting the
performance aspect of cultural events. The benefits that culture
can have on education were also noted through the Opera North in
Harmony Programme which had visited several Leeds schools the Board
further noted the links the programme had to improved education
performance.
- Geographic spread was
raised as an issue along with establishing links with Parish and
Town Councils. The Board were informed that the roadshow programme
will address this and that currently Leeds 2023 was active in all
33 wards and that there is a commitment to continue to be active
throughout the city and to access the diversity of all communities
and wards in Leeds. Members were keen to ensure that different
communities in wards were recognised and that hard to access areas
and communities were also part of the focus of the programme.
Engagement with local forums, including Parish and Town Councils
and Community Committees, was a further item identified for a
possible future report to the successor board. There was discussion
about Leeds 2023 attending each Community Committee in the coming
months with further detail to be provided once available.
- Responding to
concerns about sources of funding and total amounts of funding,
including Housing Advisory Panel (HAP) and Well Being funding,
members were informed that the Community Hosts would lead on this
in terms of drawing down funding and that HAP funding would not be
part of the funding package for Leeds 2023. In terms of the My
Leeds programme funding will be available to support the Community
Hosts approach and other funding opportunities are available
through the Arts Council. It was also noted that Leeds 2023 will
assist in gathering momentum to support activities that are already
ongoing to support artists and activities. Any future report to the
Board will also touch on funding and community grants.
- A suggestion was made
around trying to capture, in public facing form, an overview of
activity for Leeds 2023. This could bring together all the events
and strands of work that will enable elected members to promote
events and try to enhance participation. There is a need to
maintain an element of surprise for some of the events but it was
noted that this overview of events would be a potential positive
once the year moves closer.
- Before concluding the
item members were informed of the overall funding package. The
Council funding that has been agreed is being granted to Leeds 2023
and will not be retained by the Council but will be at the
discretion of Leeds 2023. Recent UK City of Culture cities such as
Coventry and Hull worked with £40m and
£34m during their respective years. In terms of the position
in Leeds, Leeds 2023 was confident that funding of £21m will
be secured. However, it was noted that fundraising can go on
throughout 2023 and that past experience in other cities that have
held cultural events suggests that more funding will become
available as the year nears and as the year is ongoing. Funding is
a major focus and a key priority for Leeds 2023 at the
moment.
- The
Board were broadly supportive of the progress made since the last
report in October 2021 and looked forward to a further report in
the next municipal year.
The Chair noted that items to pass on to the
successor board for their 2022/23 Work Programme will be picked up
under the Work Programme item later on the agenda.
RESOLVED – To note the content of
the report and the intention for a further report in 2022/23.