OFFICIALS from the North East will be consulted to help draw up plans to introduce a cultural quarter in York and boost the city's multi-million pound tourism industry.
York Council is considering creating a cultural quarter to cover a host of historic buildings in an area stretching from the rail station to the Minster.
It would span a section of the city centre that contains protected buildings created during e
very major construction period since the Romans.
The Yorkshire Post revealed earlier this month that councillors are looking to learn valuable lessons from the guardians of other historic buildings in European cities including Prague, Tallinn in Estonia, Belfast and Barcelona.
Specific zones dedicated to art and creative industries such as graphic design and multi-media businesses, which have been established in other English cities including Newcastle, Sheffield, Bolton and Wolverhampton, are also being analysed.
Officials from Newcastle City Council are due to give a presentation to the York authority on how the North East city's own cultural quarter on the dockside was developed.
The plans for the dedicated area in York have been proposed by Coun Chris Hogg, and a meeting was held on Monday to discuss the idea.
Coun Hogg said: "I am confident that we will develop a vision which is suitable to York, whilst drawing on ideas from other cities such as Sheffield and Belfast.
"A cultural quarter will increase tourism in York and promote and develop further the city's cultural activity – this will bring more jobs and more money to the local economy.
"Residents throughout York will enjoy the benefits of a cultural quarter in terms of retail, leisure and cultural activity, and a stronger economy.
"With better planning of this area, we can positively transform the city centre for tourists and residents, and develop a more thriving, cultural city."
The full article contains 310 words and appears in n/a newspaper.
