Agenda item

The Business Growth and Resilience Policy Manager presented the Mayoral Pledge report to the Committee. The report provided members with an update on Mayoral pledge activity in relation to the Committee and sought their views and ideas in relation to developing the forward programme of the Committee around the Creative New Deal pledge.

It was highlighted that this report is an exciting opportunity for the Committee to shape how the members see the Creative New Deal pledge being delivered and how that will shape the forward plan of the Culture, Arts and Creative Industries Committee. It is also an opportunity for the Committee to consider the role that culture arts and creative industries can play in delivering the other mayoral pledges.

The Creative New Deal is one of the ten mayoral pledges outlined in the Mayor’s manifesto and it will be a key part of the Committee’s responsibilities to oversee its development. Initial scoping has outlined some key areas that the Creative New Deal could help deliver and the input of the Committee is sought to help shape this further. Key areas identified so far have been skills and reskilling, support for creative businesses, social prescribing, the ‘Towns of Culture’ concept, theatre without walls and the Yorkshire Youth Theatre.

The Committee thanked the Business Growth and Resilience Policy Manager for the report. Members raised several issues such as, but not limited to, the following:

·       The existence of the previous Culture Framework was noted, and that this needs to be refreshed and considered for adoption by this committee.

·       A “National Theatre of West Yorkshire” could be established in the same format as the National Theatre of Scotland and national Theatre of Wales. This could provide support and be a ‘pipeline’ for the National Youth Theatre.

·       Leadership and supporting leaders of the future in the sector is essential. Could a digital academy be established?

·       Socio-economic diversity, disability and ethnic diversity will be key to the work of the Committee. However, such members of the sector can often be ‘set up to fail’ by having far too much pressure placed upon them in a rush to appear inclusive but not having the support in place to support their growth.

·       Help to position West Yorkshire as a place to start a career in the creative, arts and cultural industries. The relatively cheaper cost of living compared to such centres as London is an essential part of that offer.

·       Placing more emphasis on taking opportunities to the centre of communities, such as creative schools.

·       How can we improve mapping of “cold spots” to ensure we know who is accessing and participating in cultural activity, and to target intervention effectively particularly in areas of deprivation or underrepresented groups?

·       How can the experience of major bidding projects, for example the Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture bid, be shared throughout West Yorkshire? A lot of expertise and knowledge is gained though the bid writing process and not just the final bid.

·       Business support for the creative industry is key – perhaps targeted more at the self-employed cohorts. A mentoring/leadership programme could be beneficial like the CLORE leadership programme.

·       It needs to be a focus on how the Committee can affect long-term change and not short-term gains.

·       Jerwood Arts, an independent funder for UK arts based in London, has created a significant support network and there is opportunity for creating a similar such network in West Yorkshire.