North Yorkshire County Council

Informal Meeting of the Executive

8 March 2022

A Cultural Framework for North Yorkshire

Report of the Corporate Director – Business and Environmental Services

1.0 Purpose of Report

1.1 To seek approval of a Cultural Framework for North Yorkshire.

2.0 Background

2.1 Under his delegated decision making powers in the Officers’ Delegation Scheme in the Council’s Constitution, the Chief Executive Officer has power, in cases of emergency, to take any decision which could be taken by the Council, the Executive or a committee. Following on from the expiry of the Local Authorities and Police and Crime Panels (Coronavirus) (Flexibility of Local Authority and Police and Crime Panel Meetings) (England and Wales) Regulations 2020, which allowed for committee meetings to be held remotely, the County Council resolved at its meeting on 5 May 2021 that, for the present time, in light of the continuing Covid-19 pandemic circumstances, remote live-broadcast committee meetings should continue (as informal meetings of the Committee Members), with any formal decisions required being taken by the Chief Executive Officer under his emergency decision making powers and after consultation with other Officers and Members as appropriate and after taking into account any views of the relevant Committee Members. This approach will be reviewed again at Annual Council in May 2022.

2.2 The development of a cultural framework for North Yorkshire has been commissioned by York, North Yorkshire, East Riding & Hull (YNYERH) Directors of Development and overseen by a steering group consisting of arts and cultural officers from each of the District Councils in North Yorkshire, The National Park Authorities, North Yorkshire County Council and representatives from the Cultural and Voluntary sectors including, Rural Arts, Scarborough Museums Trust, Community First Yorkshire, and Arts Council England who have part funded the work.

2.3 Prior to the first Covid lockdown in March 2020, the arts development company Mustard& were commissioned to develop the framework, including completing an audit of cultural provision in North Yorkshire and consulting widely with the cultural sector and with specific user groups and non-users.

2.3       The brief for the development of the framework focussed on the role of culture in;

· regeneration and place shaping,

· developing skills and supporting creative industries

· individual health and wellbeing

· supporting community development and quality of life

2.4 The brief identified the arts and heritage sectors as the core areas of the work outlining a deliberately concise definition of culture in order to give the work focus and purpose.  The proposal required Mustard& to create a framework that would complement and support local cultural strategies where they exist and also provide support and justification for cultural development, funding opportunities and investment where no local strategy is present.  The framework document has already been used in local authorities to support applications and investment priorities for cultural development.

2.5 The development of the framework has been supported by Arts Council England through their funding and participation in the Steering Group.  The final draft of the Cultural Framework was presented to YNYERH Directors of Development on 01 October 2021.

2.6       The consultation with user groups and the cultural sector, alongside the audit of cultural assets will be of value in informing and supporting work towards the transition to a new North Yorkshire unitary council.

3.0 Development of the Framework

3.1       During the course of developing the framework Mustard& undertook a comprehensive consultation exercise.  This included:

· Direct consultation with over 100 arts organisations and individuals in North Yorkshire

· Online engagement with over 600 respondents including members of the public

· Consultation with young people’s groups, aged 11-17 and 20-25.

· Community engagement which resulted in 80 responses to #MyNorthYorkshire photography contest undertaken in partnership with Community First Yorkshire and Fodder of Harrogate.

· Consultation with key decision makers including Arts Council England, Historic England and National Lottery Heritage Fund.

3.2       The programme of work also included an audit of cultural assets in North Yorkshire which separately identifies 583 cultural assets including:

· choirs (38)

· recording studios (18)

· cultural festivals (44)

· museums and galleries (52)

· blacksmiths (15)

· theatres (23)

· theatre groups (40)

· heritage sites including houses and gardens (56)

· dry stone wallers (17) etc. etc.

A full list can be found in the attached Framework Document at Appendix B.

3.3       The development of the framework has taken care to reflect local cultural developments and aspirations.  Comments on the final draft document have been received from members of the Steering Group representing each of the District Councils and other stakeholders and these have been incorporated into the attached final document.

4.0 Key issues and opportunities for culture:

4.1       Key issues and opportunities for culture arising through development of the framework are outlined under the following headings:

· Health and wellbeing

· Place shaping and town centres

· Creative Skills and Economy

· Audiences

· Connectivity Networks and Leadership

· Funding and Investment

· Emerging from the Pandemic

The considerations are outlined in more detail in Appendix A of this report.

5.0 A Strategic Framework

5.1 The Framework is intended to provide an overarching direction of travel and act as a catalyst for conversation, partnership brokering and investment including securing both public and private sector funding.  Investing in the process of collective leadership development, capacity building and conversation will help the sector move forward with confidence, innovation and creative ambition.

5.2       The Strategic Framework identifies the aspirations for culture in North Yorkshire under the following themes

· Culture Participation and Wellbeing

· People, Place Shaping and Culture

· Creative Skills and Economy

· Inclusion, Relevance and Access

· Cultural Leadership and Connectivity

5.3       The Framework also outlines underpinning principles under the headings of:

· Creative Ambition

· Digital Dimensions

· Climate Emergency

5.4       The detail of these aspirations and principles is found in Appendix A, and in the Framework document attached as Appendix B.

6.0 Key cultural development projects in North Yorkshire

6.1 The framework outlines its role as a catalyst for the beginning of an ongoing cultural conversation in North Yorkshire in order to develop leadership and networks, priorities for engagement and investment and better integration of cultural activity in the core statutory functions of local government to improve the prosperity and wellbeing of individuals and communities.  The Cultural Framework forms the basis for a new North Yorkshire Council to develop its strategic aspirations for culture and the role culture can play in supporting prosperity and wellbeing in North Yorkshire.  The framework puts forward a roadmap for culture through the emergence from Covid and anticipated structural changes in local government in the months and years ahead.

6.2       There are currently a number of cultural initiatives being delivered across North Yorkshire which collectively demonstrate the role and value of culture in the County and make a significant contribution to the aspirations outlined in the Framework.  In addition it should be noted that the pre-launch guidance for the Government’s new Shared Prosperity Fund recognises the development of culture and cultural assets.  Current initiatives within its investment priorities and it is increasingly evident that culture will play a role in the Government’s ‘levelling up’ agenda:

6.2.1    Craven District

- Opening of the Skipton Town Hall Cultural Centre

- Development  of phase 2 of the Lakes and Dales Great Places programme

- Work to develop a new Creative Industries centre including work / live space

6.2.2    Hambleton District

- Northallerton Heritage Action Zone and associated cultural interventions

- Cultural elements of the Treadmills Project including new cinema and digital hub

- Public art installation at Sowerby and Northallerton Sports Villages

6.2.3    Harrogate District

- Culture now part of new Destination Management Organisation (DMO) within Harrogate Borough Council

- Capital redevelopment plans for Royal Pump Room Museum underway

- Cultural Strategy being developed as part of wider Destination Management Plan

- Support for Harrogate International Festivals, Harrogate theatre and other some other District Museums ongoing

6.2.4    Richmondshire District

- Delivery of Community Grant schemes

- Working with NYCC ‘Stronger Communities Programme’

- Working with the Yorkshire Dales National Park to deliver the Management Plan for the Yorkshire Dales, particularly in relation to the ‘Attracting Young Families’ initiative.

6.2.5    Ryedale District

- CRF - Initiative to develop museums delivery with links to schools and community settings

- North York Moors NPA Arts development programme, focused on inspire Gallery

- RDC annual small Arts Grants scheme

- Ryedale Creative Economy Commissions programme

- Return of Ryedale festival

- Ongoing investment in the Milton Rooms

6.2.6    Scarborough Borough

- Cultural initiatives linked to Towns Fund programmes

- Development of Scarborough Fair cultural festival

- Art installations in key locations

- Local Artist developed wraps for empty shop fronts

- Development of a new local cultural strategy

- Opening of the Scarborough Parcel Office arts centre

6.2.7    Selby District

- Selby District recognised by Arts Council England as a ‘Priority Place’ for the development of Arts and Culture

- Selby Abbey 950 celebrations undertaken

- Launch of Selby District Cultural Framework

- Heart of Yorkshire visitor website launch

6.2.8    Countywide

- Development of town centre masterplans

- Integration of public art into extra care development

- National Park Authority development of arts and heritage initiatives.

7.0 Next Steps

7.1 The Framework will be a key contributing document to the LGR Culture, Leisure and Sport workstream which commenced on 5 November 2021 and will help inform bids for Arts Council England funding opportunities prior to, and after, vesting day.  The Cultural Framework will support the development of a future Cultural Strategy by the new North Yorkshire Council.

8.0       Equalities

8.1       The Cultural Framework has been developed with an appreciation of the need to be inclusive and ensure consideration is given to equal access for all.  The Framework contains a strategic ambition to ensure that everyone can enjoy and participate in culture, regardless of age, ability, background or locality.  See Appendix C.

9.0       Finance

9.1       There are no financial implications arising specifically from approving the Cultural Framework. Initiatives included in the Framework are the strategic ambitions for culture which will be delivered in line with appropriate funding being identified.

10.0     Legal

10.1     The are no legal implications arising from the Cultural Framework.

11.0     Climate Change

11.1     The framework recognises the need for all sectors and activities to acknowledge and respond to issues of climate change and articulates this as an underpinning principal of the Cultural Framework.

12.0     Recommendation(s)

12.1     Executive Members are asked to recommend to the Chief Executive Officer that using his emergency delegated powers he approve the North Yorkshire Cultural Framework.

Karl Battersby

Corporate Director – Business and Environmental Services

Author of Report: Mark Kibblewhite, Senior Policy Officer, North Yorkshire County Council

Background Documents:  None

Appendices:

Appendix A – North Yorkshire Cultural Framework summary - Key issues and opportunities for culture

Appendix B – Framework Document

Appendix C – EIA