Page 7 - Re-imagining our Region

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We Need It
Like many other semi-rural regions across Europe, we are under performing in areas such as educational attainment, disposable in- come, health and well-being and inward investment. We know we need a catalyst
for change, and we believe European Capital of Culture can be that catalyst. We know that this culture-led legacy focused action will enable the region to reach its full potential, focusing on our collective capability towards a more sustainable future for the people of our region.
Our Regional Cultural Strategy – completed since our initial Bid at the pre- selection phase – sets out a new agenda based on shar- ing resources, coordinating programming and position- ing culture as mission criti- cal for our wider social and economic development and exploring how culture can deliver a sustainable future for our non-metropolitan region.
We Want It
Our bid is a collaboration between our citizens, cultural sector and local government. Without a shared appetite across the Three Sisters, this Bid would not have been developed. Moreover, our Regional Cultural Strategy – which underpins it – would not have the shared commit- ment it requires for delivery. As evidenced through our consultation and engage- ment process, our want is based on a desire to develop a region to be where culture is valued, where it is at the heart of what we do and how we plan, where those who work within the cultur- al and creative industries can make a sustainable living from their chosen career, and where all our citizens and visitors are engaged, inspired and included.
Hosting the Europe- an Capital of Culture 2020 creates an impetus to drive our culture-led change agen- da. But we are not alone:
by working with partners across Europe in cities and regions like ours, we can to- gether re-imagine a Europe of culture.
We Can Deliver It
Putting culture to the heart of the city and regional agenda is not an easy thing to achieve; and demonstrating the value of culture across multiple strategic priorities even less so. But in the Three Sisters, we have come to rec- ognise that without a com- mitted and radical approach to strategy, partnership and investment with culture at
its heart, we will continue to struggle: for voice, con dence and purpose. Our bid to be European Capital of Culture 2020 comes from a genuine change process which is part informed by structural and existential crisis and part by a belief that smaller cities and regions do not need to be le behind and that we can con- tribute to a prosperous and culturally engaged Europe. That we can deliver it.
Strong leadership
has been shown across the three cities and counties of the Three Sisters - at the top level of our local Govern- ment; politicians, executives and agencies. In addition, our signi cant cultural players and organisations have worked alongside us in mobilising support and developing a programme which we are con dent we can deliver.
Our commitment is also evident in our alloca- tion of a substantive budget to support the development and delivery of the Europe- an Capital of Culture year
in 2020. These are budgets which can only be lever- aged by smaller cities and counties working together. We have designed a robust framework for the delivery of the programme which will ensure that all elements
of planning, development delivery and legacy are care- fully managed.
While we appreciate that signi cant developments are required within the region in advance of 2020, we have a portfolio of project and programme elements which have already commenced in preparation for a success-
ful outcome from the bid process. This includes our programme of demonstra- tion projects – recently commissioned pilots, R&D activities, symposia, hubs and networks which, once tested will be scaled up as we build toward 2020. This commitment shows our de- termination not only to win the title and to spend the next four years transforming how we will work together to create a sustainable legacy for the region beyond 2020. It also demonstrates our commitment to collabo- rating across Europe and
in doing so re-imagining a Europe where smaller cities and regions are actively de- livering change rather than simply responding to it.
Without a shared appetite across the Three Sisters, this Bid would not have been developed...