EIGHTY per cent of people in the 12 most deprived wards of Bradford are among those who have lowest engagement with culture, according to a Council report.

It was revealed ahead of a meeting of tomorrow's Regeneration and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee, which will hear an update on "ambitious plans for culture" through to 2030.

A major part of this will be the development of a new 'Cultural Strategy' for the next decade.

The report says: "The existing Bradford Council Cultural Strategy, ‘A Leading Cultural City’ is set to expire in 2024.

"Whilst its priorities continue to guide current Council investments in partner organisations activities it is clear that the landscape and opportunities have changed significantly for the city."

The report says the strategy should support the new economic plan and must include the bid to be UK City of Culture 2025.

"This strategy should also include future plans for Bradford’s Museums and Libraries," says the report.

"Developing the strategy will commence in October 2019 with the aim for a new ten-year strategy 2020-2030 to be launched in summer 2020.

"We have already gained support from Arts Council England of £20,000 and will make an application to the National Lottery Heritage Fund for a £10,000 contribution to this work."

A brief provided for the Cultural Strategy tender says: "Bradford is a great northern city, home to enterprising and creative people with strong productive businesses.

"With a proud industrial and cultural heritage and a growing economy, Bradford has one of the youngest and most diverse populations in the UK."

It adds: "The strategy will look at a wide definition of cultural development with a particular emphasis on the arts heritage and film. It will look at social, economic and place-based benefits of cultural development and seek to address the inequalities of access identified by recent research in the city."

It says the work will also engage with Visit Bradford and efforts to raise the profile of the city through "promoting Bradford and district as a visitor destination and centre for arts, culture and events".

The brief adds: "The Council, like many other local authorities, is facing significant budget challenges, and is currently reviewing funding provision across its museums and libraries as well as grant support programme, which includes revenue grant support to the cultural sector. However, the Council has also recognised that culture is essential to the vibrancy of the city’s offer and is looking to strengthen the capacity and sustainability of the independent cultural sector, to realise the full potential of partnerships in the city and to maximise the potential for growth in the creative industries.

"The Council recognises that culture and creative industries are key contributors to the economic and social regeneration of Bradford and can in turn be a major contributor to Bradford’s strategic positioning regionally, nationally and internationally. Culture is also seen as an important contributor to health and well being and community cohesion."

It says: "It is anticipated that the strategy will also address some of the social and economic challenges of the city around employment, skills, health, infrastructure and the impact of culture on the development of leisure and business tourism."

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