Cultural strategy to be launched in York to play on historic city's heritage links

The blueprint is also being seen a key driver for helping shape developments and attract new investment in the North Yorkshire city, playing on York’s centuries-old links to culture and heritage.

The plan, which has been dubbed York’s Creative Future, will place culture at the heart of activities ranging from regeneration and major capital developments, to residents’ well-being and a cultural entitlement for every child.

York Council’s executive member for culture, leisure and communities, Coun Darryl Smalley, will be asked to formally adopt the strategy at a decision session tomorrow (February 2).

Coun Smalley said: “York’s culture and heritage is world-renowned and the city is normally a key destination for millions of visitors every year. But we cannot rely on our history alone to make our future.

“York’s Creative Future recognises the wealth of brilliant work already taking place across the cultural and creative sectors and sets out how the city, it’s residents and businesses, will benefit from the economic prosperity and advantages to our well-being that a thriving cultural sector can deliver.

“We will need to work with our partners across the city to help us meet the strategy’s ambitious goals.

“Together, we must ensure that York’s unique and vibrant culture can be enjoyed by everyone in the city, whatever their age, background or postcode.”

The ambitious strategy is aimed at ensuring culture is accessible to all residents across York, while also highlighting the city’s creative sector both nationally and internationally.

York’s existing cultural offering includes some of the North of England’s leading museums and theatres, while the city has a long history of staging world-famous events such as the Mystery Plays, which tell the biblical story and are held every four years.

The city’s art gallery is famed for its collection of important European paintings spanning seven centuries, with works by Bernardo Bellotto, Sir Joshua Reynolds, LS Lowry and York-born William Etty, whose statue stands outside the venue.

However, it is hoped the new strategy will see the city emerge as a centre for contemporary creativity, encouraging residents and businesses to become more involved in York’s cultural offerings to bring in more investment.

The strategy has identified a series of core priorities which are aimed at encouraging the younger generations to become actively involved in culture and the arts, while also attracting a new generation of talent to live and work in the city.