sections

Who is culture for?

Where traditionally the audience for a Culture Strategy has largely been the arts sector, this strategy aims to broaden the role of culture in Leeds, placing it at the heart of the city’s narrative, embedding culture across all policy areas and, as such, its audience must also be much broader.

“Culture has no membership criteria”

A conversation on culture with Gerry Godley, Principal & Chief Executive Leeds College of Music

The audiences for the new Culture Strategy 2017-2030 include

  • Key decision and policy makers e.g., Leeds City Council, political parties, Leeds Local Economic Partnership, Leeds City Region, West Yorkshire Combined Authority and Arts Council England.
  • The arts sector e.g., those whose business it is to create, host or promote the arts and cultural offer of the city be they large organisations, individual artists and performers or community groups and collectives.
  • Cultural organisations from professional sports clubs, restaurants, food and drink societies, small independent businesses and gig venues to local interest groups, volunteer networks, galas, craft groups and markets.
  • The heritage sector e.g., Heritage Lottery Fund, Leeds Civic Trust, clubs and societies.
  • Residents of Leeds e.g., people who live in communities across the city, young, old, community leaders, activists and social groups, regardless of whether or not they engage in what they consider to be cultural activities.
  • Children and young people – both those who engage with the education system and those who don’t. Although included in ‘residents of Leeds’ this paper focuses on creating a vision for culture in 2030, so it must pay particular attention to the generation who will be creating and delivering that future.
  • Marginalised groups e.g., the city’s migrant population, the city’s LGBTQIA community, and other vulnerable groups.
  • The education sector including schools, Further and Higher Education institutions across the city, and alternatives to school provision.
  • The student population –students could be the future residents and businesses of Leeds.
  • The commercial business sector e.g., banks, building societies, accountants, lawyers, digital and technology specialists and the thousands of Leeds SMEs.
  • The regeneration and development community e.g., property developers, land owners and agents.
  • The tourism industry e.g., hotels, restaurants, bars, key attractions and venues.
  • Health authorities from the NHS and hospitals to service providers and users.
  • Charities, Trusts, Foundations & Social Enterprises e.g. those giving their time and efforts to support others and build stronger communities.