Agenda item - Investment Priority 6: Culture and Creative Industries, Sport and Physical Activities

(Lead Member: The Mayor, Director: Phil Witcherley)

Resolved:

With respect to Bradford City of Culture 2025 the Combined Authority approved that:

i. The Bradford City of Culture 2025 scheme proceed through decision point 1 (strategic assessment) and work commence on the business case.

ii. Approval be given to the Combined Authority’s contribution of £300,000.

iii. The Combined Authority enter into a funding agreement with Bradford Council for expenditure of up to £300,000.

With respect to You Can Make it Here – Creative Industries Skills and Business Support the Combined Authority approved that:

i. The You Can Make it Here – Creative Industries Skills and Business Support scheme proceed through decision point 2 to 4 (business justification) and work commence on activity 5 (delivery).

ii. Approval to the Combined Authority’s contribution of £1,734,750 be given. The total scheme value is £1,734,750.

iii. Future approvals be made in accordance with the assurance pathway and approval route outlined in the submitted report. This would be subject to the scheme remaining within the tolerances outlined in the submitted report. Where required, any future committee level approvals be delegated to the Culture, Heritage, and Sport Committee.

Members considered two schemes for progression through the West Yorkshire Combined Authority Assurance Framework.

The Mayor noted the schemes would feeds into the Creative New Deal and provide training and support for individuals to access creative industries. The Mayor noted almost 48,000 jobs in the creative industries were advertised in West Yorkshire in the preceding year, which was a 17% increase compared to the year before and greater than the national average. The Mayor added that investment in well-paid jobs would increase the available talent and innovation, and support growth across the sector.

Bradford City of Culture 2025

Officers explained the funding would contribute to the development of the business case, which would further confirm the future funding needs. Delivery would be led by the City of Bradford and would help to build capacity in charitable and community organisations ahead of the year of culture. The Mayor noted Bradford had also successfully applied for funding from the Department for Culture, Media & Sport and the Heritage Fund.

Members queried how it could be ensured that local talent would be developed in favour of those travelling from outside of West Yorkshire. The Mayor noted that there had already been many opportunities created, and through assessment of the workforce it could be seen over several years that individuals would progress to more senior roles with the experience they had gained. Officers added that as projects develop there would be better estimations of where people had come from. Members noted that similar projects had long-lasting impacts beyond the culmination of the scheme and cited the arrival of Channel 4 in Leeds which had provided significant employment for local people.

Members questioned who would decide how the funding was spent. Officers confirmed the initial funding would be to support capacity for small organisations, but future funding needs would be for Bradford to determine.

You Can Make it Here – Skills and Business Support for Culture

Officers explained the scheme would focus on multiple projects, including development of skills and support, funding for accessibility, and support for freelancers and micro businesses. Soe projects had already achieved success, and officers expressed the aim to develop further knowledge to improve future schemes. The Mayor noted that freelancers had been particularly affected throughout the pandemic and did not always have broad networks, and similar organisations to Brudenell would provide benefit. The Mayor added the Screen Diversity Programme had given positive outcomes for diversity in culture and could be expanded to writers as well as performers.