EEDA - East of England Development Agency

A new beat for culture in the East of England

14 September 2006

Regional representatives from the arts, heritage, culture, sports, community organisations, businesses and government and the Luton Steel Orchestra were at the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge yesterday (13 September) to launch a new cultural strategy for

The strategy, 'A Better Life' looks at how culture can contribute to the East of England's prosperity, people and places and embrace growth and regeneration without compromising quality of life and the region's character.

David Lammy, culture minister for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, said: "Culture makes communities vibrant, diverse and interesting places to live, work and play. It's important that strategies such as this inform regional policy if we are to avoid repeating the mistakes of the past"

Brian Hackland, Regional Director, Government Office for the East of England said: "A Better Life sets out the value, power and potential of culture and a blueprint for achieving culturally rich communities across the East of England through strong partnership working. It will help shape the Integrated Regional Strategy whose vision is to improve the quality of life for everyone who lives or works in the region."

The strategy provides a focus for government, regional agencies and partners to work with local authorities, individuals, community groups, arts organisations, sports teams, creative entrepreneurs and others to address key issues facing culture in the region over the next 10 years. The aim is to:

• embed culture in growth and regeneration: increase investment in culture-led growth and regeneration to make the East of England a leading light for the rest of the country
• develop creativity: become the creative workshop of the UK by offering the best opportunities to creative people and businesses in the country
• increase cultural tourism: become recognised as a premier cultural tourism destination in England by 2020
• capture the benefits of the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games: maximise the positive impacts of the Games coming to London in 2012

Graham Creelman, Chair of Living East said: "Cultural infrastructure is as important as hard infrastructure in creating communities that are truly sustainable. Culture must be planned from the outset."

Culture gives people an opportunity to grow talents, knowledge, understanding and enjoyment of life. It can develop aspirations and help transform and grow communities. In the strategy culture is listed as:

• the performing and visual arts, craft, design and fashion
• media, film, television, video and language
• museums, artefacts and archives
• libraries, literature, writing and publishing
• the built heritage, architecture, landscape and archaeology
• sports events, facilities and development
• parks, open spaces, wildlife habitats, water environment and countryside recreation
• children's play, playgrounds and play activities
• tourism, festivals and attractions

Speakers at the event were:

• Brian Hackland, regional director, Go-East
• Graham Creelman, chair of Living East
• David Marlow, chief executive of the East of England Development Agency
• George Fisher, member of Luton Carnival Arts Development Trust

A copy of the strategy will be available from 14th September.