Future Belfast Cultural Strategy Open For Public Consultation

People across Belfast and beyond are being urged to have their say on how the city's cultural offering can be harnessed, developed and celebrated over the next ten years.

Belfast City Council launched a consultation on the scheme which is titled 'A City Imagining' last week. Opinions can be submitted over the next 12 weeks.

The draft strategy outlines a number of key strategic milestones for the next 10 years, including:

• A new approach to events and festivals in the city

• A bid for UNESCO City of Music status in 2021

• An international year of culture planned for 2023

• Delivering a new visitor attraction in 2024 and a supporting neighbourhood tourism programme.

Members of the public are encouraged to share feedback and ideas on how the themes and priorities outlined in the draft can be realised, as council embarks on an ambitious 10 year plan to support the cultural life of the city.

Alistair Reid, Strategic Director of Place and Economy at Belfast City Council said: "There is an abundance of evidence that a vibrant arts and cultural scene drives tourism, attracts investment, promotes inclusion and community cohesion, and retains and attracts talent – all priorities within our Belfast Agenda.

"We've been having conversations with the public on the development of the city's cultural and creative offering since 2017 as part of an ongoing engagement programme, and these conversations have helped to shape the draft cultural strategy which we're unveiling today.

"We want people to dream big; to share their ideas on how they imagine our city in 10 years' time. People are at the heart of culture, and so it is important for us that our strategy has a strong citizen-focussed approach, that it provides long-term sustainability for the sector, and is integrated as part of major developments plans such as the Belfast Story destination hub."

Mr Reid continued: "It's important for us to have a partnership with the cultural sector and recognise and support local creative talent. We want to see creativity and culture effect change, and to bring ideas to fruition; for our city to be enriched and empowered through being connected and engaged.

"For some people culture is sport, it's art, it's music, it's the buildings around us, the food we eat, or the languages we speak – culture is everywhere, and we want to really harness that and bring people along on the journey with us."

More details on the draft strategy and upcoming public engagement opportunities can be found on the council's website.



(JG/CM)