Council promises £5m for cultural projects

A local authority has pledged £5m to support cultural activity in Hull over the next five years.

Hull City Council said the funds would be used to help deliver established events such as the Freedom Festival, Hull Fair, Humber St Sesh and Pride, as well as develop a "new community-led festival". It also plans to increase activities in parks.

In a report, the authority said £1m would be spent annually over the next five years, including on staffing, a music plan and a "parks events fund".

Councillor Rob Pritchard, portfolio holder for culture and leisure, said the investment would help the city's economy and increase civic pride.

In its report, the council recommended the creation of eight full-time posts to support "events delivery" in parks, marketing, commercialisation, city centre management, strategic planning and fundraising.

The £1m annual funding would include £420,000 for staffing and £100,000 each for an "annual music plan", developing the community-led festival and the parks events fund.

The report stated that the investment would "help to maintain momentum for the legacy of City of Culture 2017".

The council said it would form two new boards – the Hull Culture & Heritage Partnership Board and Hull Music Board – to facilitate the delivery of its plans.

Pritchard said: "This additional funding recognises the importance of culture and heritage as a driver for regeneration, community pride and cohesion, and its role in raising aspirations and attainment.

"It offers both an economic return and a social value to our residents. Successful places have connected the role of culture into their identity, maximising its contribution to the economy and creating a place that people love to live, work, study and visit."

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