Exeter culture strategy launched

It's hoped the city will be known nationally and internationally as a city of culture

A strategy to make Exeter known nationally and internationally as a city of culture has been launched.

The vision of Exeter’s Arts and Cultural Strategy sets out a clear direction for progress to 2024 and aims to innovate and lead in the areas of the environment, wellbeing, cultural literacy, creative making and heritage to build a living city where everyone lives well.

Exeter City Council’s executive on Tuesday night unanimously agreed to support the work of Exeter Culture, the cultural sector and key stakeholders in delivering it.

Cllr Rachel Sutton, portfolio holder for culture, said: “It is important we make it clear that culture in the wider sense is important to the citizens. It is about the quality of life and one of the great selling points of Exeter is the great quality of life.

“The vision is that Exeter will be known nationally and internationally as a city of culture. We are blessed with a thriving arts portfolio in the city. The Arts Council have six groups a commitment of funding recently and that is like having six Premier League teams in the city.”

The report of Jon-Paul Hedge, Director, added: “The strategy highlights the importance of culture as a catalyst for economic diversification and growth, for talent attraction and retention, for inward investment and tourism, for health and wellbeing; for environmental awareness and sustainability, and for innovation and competitiveness.

“Exeter City Council has worked with leading Exeter partners to create and support Exeter Culture. This cultural strategy sets the direction for the city’s cultural ambition for the next five years. Failing to support it would have significant consequences for both the confidence in Exeter Culture and associated partners.”

The strategy sets out five key themes and for Exeter to be a city of Culture for the Environment, Cultural Wellbeing, Cultural Literacy and Learning, Heritage Innovation and Creative Making.

It was unanimously adopted and backed by the executive to the relief of Cllr Sutton, who said: “The launch date and event for this has been set for tomorrow so I will be really embarrassed if this doesn’t go through.”