Issue - meetings

The Board considered a report that provided an update on the Borough of Culture project.

It was reported that the award of Liverpool City Region Borough of Culture was inspired by the UK City of Culture programme that followed Liverpool’s European Capital of Culture in 2008.  The new initiative launched in 2018 as Liverpool celebrated its 10 Anniversary as the UK’s only European Capital of Culture.

The Borough of culture was a non-competitive process that rotated around 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. 

The report outlined the aims of the programme and the five key elements being weaved into the creativity programme.  It also highlighted the aims of Halton’s Borough of Culture year.  The operational side of the programme, the Celebrate Halton Programme (appended to the report) and aspects relating to funding and marketing were also presented in the report.

Members discussed the programme of events that were planned and hoped to be taking place, Covid restrictions permitting.  It was with great sadness that the Bridge Event, scheduled for 26 June 2021, had to be postponed due to rising numbers of infections in the Borough.  The Board remained positive that the remainder of the schedule of events will be able to proceed and they looked forward to attending them.

RESOLVED: That the report and comments made be noted.