Issue - meetings

The Strategic Director – Enterprise, Community and Resources, invited Members to attend a consultation which will explore the themes identified for Halton’s Borough of Culture Year in 2021.

The Board was advised that the award of Liverpool City Region Borough of Culture was inspired by the UK City of Culture Programme which followed Liverpool’s European Capital of Culture in 2008.  This new initiative was launched in 2018 as Liverpool celebrated its 10^th Anniversary as the UK’s only European Capital of Culture.

It was noted that the Borough of Culture initiative was a non-competitive process which would rotate round the City Region with the aim of encouraging each Borough to collaboratively develop its local talent and potential, whilst reflecting the ambitions and aims of the Regional Culture and Creativity Strategy, which looked to build sustainable capacity across the City Region. 

Further, Members were advised the aim of Halton’s Borough of Culture Year was to increase participation in quality cultural activity across Halton, helping more people to experience the arts and to benefit from the role that culture could play in transforming lives, improving health and wellbeing, reducing social isolation, increasing community cohesion, inspiring creativity, supporting learning and making Halton a great place to live and work.  It was reported that this would be delivered under the banner of ‘Celebrate Halton’ and would look to celebrate Halton’s past, present and future, through a programme of activity ranging from small community led activities to large scale events which bring in national / international artists.

Further to discussions, the following further information was noted:

·       Funding of £200k was available for Halton’s Borough of Culture Year;

·       Halton’s had its own talented artists and these would be identified and invited to join in the celebrations;

·       Many community groups had expressed an interest in taking part in the consultation, which could be arranged;

·       A previous year’s topic group was focussed on culture; the findings of which would be revisited and hopefully used;

·       It was important that local people were aware of the historical heritage and culture of where they lived but many did not, it was hoped that this event would inspire and appeal to all people and communities; and

·       It was agreed that this opportunity needed to be maximised for the legacy of the Borough and for the younger generation, so input from everyone was welcomed.

It was confirmed that due to the Election on 12 December, the original date of the consultation event had been cancelled.  Once the new date was known, Members would be advised.

RESOLVED: That Members of the Board are welcome to attend the consultation session to give their views on Halton’s Borough of Culture Year themes.