Agenda item

To consider 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 milestone 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.

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.