Meeting: Cabinet Date: 12th December 2012 Subject: Cultural Strategy Update – May–November 2012 Report Of: Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Culture Wards Affected: All Key Decision: No Budget/Policy Framework: No Contact Officer: Vicki Rowan, Group Manager Cultural Services Email: [email protected] Tel: 396179 Appendices: None
1.0 Purpose of Report
1.1 To update members on the progress that has been made in achieving the Cultural Strategy’s targets over the last six months.
2.0 Recommendations
2.1 Cabinet is asked to:
Note achievements made in delivering the Cultural Strategy over the last six months, May to November 2012.
3.0 Background and Key Issues
3.1 Members were last updated on progress about the Cultural Strategy action plan some six months ago in a bid to provide an effective feedback mechanism on how well the City was achieving its cultural targets.
3.2 The strategy proposed seven distinct action areas over a ten-year period. The seven areas are:
Making sense of the city centre – creating an attractive and vibrant city centre. Rethinking heritage and cultural tourism – improving access, visibility and quality of heritage facilities with a particular emphasis on the water/maritime history. Raising the stakes for creativity – making provision for the growth in creative industries. Broadening Gloucester’s excellence in sport. Enjoying and supporting diversity. Planning for a ‘transformational’ project. Marketing and promoting Gloucester.
PT13112D 1 A full version of the strategy can be viewed on the City Council’s website at http://www.gloucester.gov.uk/Documents/corporateStrategies/GloucesterCulturalStr ategy.pdf
Progress – Cultural Update May – November 2012
Progress over the last six months has been significant and varied. This update is in no way comprehensive, but does indicate the extent of cultural activity taking place in our City. Around fifty people were contacted from the City Council and local cultural organisations to request information on what has been achieved in the last six months in relation to the seven strands of the Cultural Strategy.
1. MAKING SENSE OF THE CITY CENTRE
This strand of the Cultural Strategy is about physical improvements to the city centre and its buildings, as well as the interpretation and animation of the city and its public realm. This strand is about linking up various areas of the city including the Docks and city centre and providing public art of iconic status in the Docks which leave strong impressions on visitors and residents.
Blackfriars Priory has had two additional fire exits installed increasing the capacity to over 300 people in the North Range and improving access to the buildings, enabling a more diverse programme of events and activities to take place at the site (right).
The building of Gloucester Quays new state-of-the-art cinema and leisure quarter development is now underway. The scheme will see a modern, digital cinema experience move into the Quays alongside a range of restaurants, bars and leisure facilities, including a gym, and will help to substantially raise Gloucester’s evening economy offer. The gym is to open before Christmas this year, with restaurants shortly after and the cinema due for completion in the autumn of 2013.
A number of shops have opened in the city centre or are due to open shortly including: the new Marks and Spencers, B&Ms, Coffee1#, Barratts, Paddy Power and TKMaxx.
Funding is being sought by the GHURC and County Council for improvements to the Quay – one of the four routes from the Docks and Quays into the city centre. The work will see part of the quay narrowed, traffic slowed down, and the pedestrian realm improved.
The City Council has backed a proposal by the GHURC and the Gloucester City Centre Community Partnership to develop the Castlemeads area as an iconic open space that provides a modern events space and public park within an important ecological environment. This will benefit the densely developed Westgate Ward in particular and will provide improved access through a new footbridge across the river, enhance the natural habitats of the area and create a new events space which will complement those in the Docks. More than £600,000 of capital funding for this project has been bid for with the
PT13112D 2 Gloucestershire Environmental Trust in particular giving ‘in principle’ approval for £250,000.
The City Council has received £100,000 from the Government’s High Street Innovation Fund. The funding will provide support in a range of areas including: 1) Grants for businesses to help with rent/rates support and property repairs; 2) evening markets and 3) a ‘Meeters and Greeters’ scheme and joint promotion work with Cheltenham Borough Council.
Although Gloucester was not successful in becoming one of the Portas Pilots, the City Centre Management Team was successful in receiving £10,000 and support and advice from the Association of Town Centre Management (ATCM) for its future development. The money will be spent on enhancing the City’s market offer, further developing the business start-up opportunity within existing markets and more night markets.
The submission to the Heritage Lottery Townscape Initiative for a bid of £1.2 million for works proposed in Southgate Street was successfully awarded in April and a THI Project Officer is now in post to progress the Stage 2 bid.
The Kimbrose Area Grant Scheme launched in 2012 offers £60,000 of funding to tenants and residents within the scheme area for improvements and reinstatement of architectural features. So far five projects have been funded.
Ten properties have benefited from improvements with the aid of facelift grants in Southgate Street and a further six schemes have a grant offer.
A new heritage interpretation board has been installed at St Michael’s Tower, this was funded by the Civic Trust and designed and installed by the City Council.
The enhancement of the Fleece site is well under way by securing and making weather tight the Grade I listed building and Salt Loft. Listed Building Consent has been granted for demolition of modern additions including the link block.
The Mayor of Gloucester, Councillor David Brown welcomed around 90 guests to the Gloucester Civic Awards ceremony on the evening of 18th July. Of the 33 schemes nominated, 7 received awards in a range of categories. In addition, there were 8 commendations. It was widely agreed that the historic setting of the newly available Blackfriars Priory made for a memorable evening. A leaflet giving details of all the awards and commendations has since been published.
2. RETHINKING HERITAGE AND CULTURAL TOURISM
The second strand of the Cultural Strategy looks to improving access, visibility and the quality of heritage facilities and attractions in the City. There is a real appetite for heritage and cultural tourism, not only from visitors but also our residents. To address this interest, a range of initiatives and projects have been developed that not only put Gloucester on the map but increase residents’ pride in their City.
PT13112D 3 Gloucester Quays hosted its second Food Festival, already the biggest free Food Festival in the UK, with special guest chefs Gino D’Acampo, James Martin, Gloucestershire’s own The Fabulous Baker Brothers and Gloucester and England rugby hero and Celebrity Masterchef winner Phil Vickery, alongside live bands, tasting sessions and regional food producers. The festival attracted more than 93,000 visitors over three days and was promoted nationwide, putting the City firmly on the foodie map.
Gloucester Quays joined up with partners across the City to add to Gloucester’s collective celebration of the Queen’s Jubilee with family activities, ‘Best of British’ markets and traditional English music over the Jubilee Weekend. Following customer feedback, the Guildhall hosted ‘A Right Tea Dance’ as part of the Jubilee celebrations. The event proved so popular we are making the tea dance a regular feature in our programme.
The Guildhall team helped to coordinate the Jubilee celebrations, ranging from decorating the gate streets in red, white and blue bunting, providing equipment to community celebrations happening over the weekend and organising two days of events in Gloucester Park featuring music performances from Euphoria show choir and the excellent 50’s style band, The Firebirds, along with dance demonstrations, vintage scooters, craft workshops and games for all the family.
The Museum Service provided staff and support for several city wide celebrations and events. Children’s activities were provided for Jubilee and Summer Festival family events in the Park. The City Museum held a 1950’s style village fete in the Wheatstone hall to celebrate the Jubilee, while the Folk Museums’ retro room looked at Royal Jubilees and people’s memories of them throughout the ages.
Blackfriars is open to the public every Sunday and Monday between 10-4pm as a visitor attraction and available Tuesday to Saturday for events and private hires. In May we held our first wedding ceremony and reception and we have already hosted a number of private and community events since signing the lease.
Blackfriars Priory was the main base for Gloucester History Festival in September, playing host to a variety of history talks organised by Marketing Gloucester. We have also hosted the Gloucester Mayor Making Ceremony and the National Sheriffs AGM.
The inaugural Gloucester History Festival took place between 27th August and 9th September. The festival featured over 140 events including processions, history talks, lectures, re-enactments as well as Horrible Histories stage show.
Marketing Gloucester worked with local historian Darrel Kirby to organise a Heritage Pubs Festival as part of the Gloucester History Festival. The accompanying literature can be re-used for a permanent Historic Pub Trail. The parties will hold talks with the Civic Trust to look at funding the printing of the leaflets.
PT13112D 4 Gloucester Heritage Open Days was organised by Gloucester Civic Trust, Gloucester City Council and Marketing Gloucester. 2012 was the most successful year to date with 118 events taking place across 62 venues and footfall up by 22% compared to 2011, securing our position as one of the top five HOD cities in the country for the third year running. New venues for 2012 included: the carriage Building, Redcliff College and the Former All Saints Church. The Undercroft at the Fleece Hotel was opened up for the first time since 2008 and was the most popular venue attracting over 1,000 visitors.
Gloucester Guildhall has hosted a number of sell out shows including Robert Plant, Charlotte Church, Reel Big Fish, Dry the River and John Cooper Clarke, and strengthen its reputation as the county’s most popular live music venue.
Gloucester Guildhall played host to the Gloucester Operatic and Dramatic Society (G.O.D.S) performing the first amateur production in the UK of the esteemed show, Calendar Girls, receiving local and national press and publicity.
Gloucester Guildhall has also hosted a performance by the Welsh National Orchestra and Amor Al Flamenco.
Gloucester Quays has teamed up with Gloucestershire Archives to create an exhibition in a unit at the outlet shopping centre, charting the history of the world famous Fielding and Platt engineering factory, which stood on the site of the new outlet from 1866 until the mid nineties. The centre now features an exhibition space, partly funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, where visitors can find out about the history of the company in Gloucester and where former workers and their families can share memories of their working lives in the factory.
The City Council and Marketing Gloucester worked together to support an episode of Heston Blumenthal’s new TV series held in Gloucester Park, where Heston broke the world record for making the world’s largest ever ice cream.
Gloucester Guildhall continues to host a number of high profile meetings and conferences including: a retirement road show, a careers fair, Carers Gloucestershire, Gloucestershire Dementia Forum and Dragons Apprentice – a Dragon’s Den style competition for young people with learning difficulties.
On 4th August, the Guildhall team staged the annual Firework Finale to mark the end of the Summer Festival. Despite the poor weather on the evening thousands turned out for the spectacular display.
Gloucester Cathedral is in the Top 5 UK historic attractions, according to a Which? Travel Survey published in the summer. Which? Members were asked for their views on their favourite historical attractions and each property was rated on various elements such as value for money and quality of information. Gloucester Cathedral ranked in joint second place alongside the Houses of Parliament with a mark of 84% in the survey, while Stirling Castle topped the polls at 87%. The Which? article commented: ‘Other cathedrals including St. David’s, Salisbury and Canterbury scored well in our survey, but Gloucester received particular praise: “A most magnificent cathedral – wonderful stained glass windows and a superb pipe-organ” said one respondent.”
PT13112D 5 In 2012, English Holiday Cruises attracted visitors from around the UK, North America and Europe, filling virtually all of their cabins aboard the Edward Elgar Riverboat Hotel for a total of 44 cruises between April and October. The cruises have now been named to highlight the heritage of the region, with titles like ’River Heritage Cruise’ and ‘Historic Canal Cruise’. The programme of inclusive guided tours to heritage sites has also been expanded, with the list now including Historic Docks, Gloucester Cathedral, Soldiers of Gloucestershire Museum and the Gloucester Waterways Museum, plus a total of eight other important heritage sites along the Severn Navigation.
The Folk Museum’s new build education building and the City Museum’s newly refurbished Wheatstone Hall continue to welcome schools as well as community and commercial groups to use its learning and meeting facilities. Local adult learning and informal education providers are beginning to explore the possibility of regular out of hours use of the Museums Service.
Over the summer more than 1,000 residents took part in ‘History on Your Doorstep’ project, a partnership between the County Council Archaeology Service, National Portable Antiquities Scheme and the City Museum. This promised to deepen our understanding of the historic Kingsholm area and its relationship to the city centre in Roman times.
During September the Institute of Field Archaeologists Finds Group shed new light on Anglo-Saxon Gloucester when at one of their specialist training days in the City Museum they corrected some misidentifications of material excavated in the 1980’s.
The Museums along with other venues in the city celebrated the ‘Great Gloucester Story’ in partnership with the BBC. The Museums held talks and provided handling sessions and craft activities to help people make more sense of Gloucester’s past and discover more about how they could trace their ancestors in the area.
The Museums Service has been supporting Gloucester Local History Society to set itself up and get a constitution and structure sorted. The Folk Museum is also the venue for its meetings and will benefit from the research and discoveries that the local historians will make about the City.
A young City Museum volunteer has produced a guide introducing our customers to Gloucester’s lost castle, lavishly illustrated with his own drawings. The booklet will be displayed on a plinth in the City Museum galleries shortly.
After the decommissioning of HMS Gloucester, the ship’s bell has now come to the City where it has gone on display in the City Museum where both residents and visitors can take pride in the ship’s distinguished service.
Gloucester’s first night market on the 4th July was a great success, celebrating the diversity of the City, the music and dance talent of local people and also an opportunity for local businesses to promote themselves or for budding entrepreneurs to try their hand at market trading. The event bridged the gap between the day and evening economy. The second night market will take place
PT13112D 6 on the 6th December in conjunction with the Tree of Light switch on event in the gate streets and Kings Square.
The tenth official Gloucester Rhythm and Blues Festival took place from 21st-29th July. New venues as well as established ones were on board for the 2012 event, which attracted local, national and international acts.
Planning is in full swing for Gloucester Quay’s third Victorian Christmas Market in November, which has grown in size each year to the point where it now rivals well known festive markets in Bath and Worcester. More than 130 stalls will be located in the City’s historic Victorian Docks, with Dickensian characters, local brass bands and choirs and traditional carousel and traction engines all adding to the authentic atmosphere. More than 90,000 people are expected to visit over the four days of the event, with group travel organisers bringing parties from all across the UK. The Museums Service will also play a role again this year with children’s activities.
Planning is underway for the 2013 events programme which will include further Mystery Plays, the Three Choirs Festival and the 4th Tall Ships Festival.
3. RAISING THE STAKES FOR CREATIVITY
Raising the stakes for creativity is about increasing opportunities for participating in arts including increasing activity in our schools and developing creative industry workspace in the City. The Cultural Strategy also recommended the development a new music hub and suggested that Gloucester develops an image of being cool in contrast to Cheltenham’s Regency representation.
At Blackfriars Priory we have been working in partnership with Fairgame Theatre who has been using the site as both inspiration and a venue to create theatre and filming projects. We have also been working in partnership with GDance to host a number of inclusive dance and art sessions for the local community.
GDance convened a Carnival Arts Partnership including the City Council, GAINE, Art Shape and GDance. This resulted in a more coordinated and higher level arts offer for Summer in Gloucester and Carnival, levering in an additional £6,900 from Pavilion Dance South West (ACE Funds) and £7,300 from Awards from All towards: an inclusion tent in the Park on 21 & 22 July providing crafts, face painting, dance and drumming activities, as well as signposting to other arts opportunities. There was also a dance stage in the Park and Kings Square performances on carnival day featuring B-boy group Trinity Warriors, the UK’s top integrated dance company StopGAP, UK Lindy Hop champions Sara & Gary Boon, and a range of community youth dance groups including GDance’s VIA (a community company for disabled adults).
PT13112D 7 On the 21st July, the Guildhall team hosted Park:Live, a free music festival in Gloucester Park. The event showcased a combination of local bands, up and coming national acts and headlined by international band, We Are Scientists and received excellent feedback from attendees.
During September, the Guildhall held its third annual Underground Festival, showcasing the best up and coming bands from the UK and beyond. This year’s line up included Bastille, Lower Than Atlantis and local favourites, Young Kato and Canary Swing performing to a full venue.
An ERDF bid was submitted in April 2012 to increase business incubation support for businesses in innovative industries. If successful, Blackfriars Inn could be brought back into use as an innovation centre. We are awaiting funding approval due early November 2012.
The Economic Development Team recently won Enterprise Partner of the Year at the University of Gloucestershire’s Enterprise Awards for their work on the Quays Creative Incubator Project. The project offers incubator workspace to innovative and creative sector businesses.
An ERDF bid has been submitted with the Princes Trust to support enterprise growth.
GDance and Art Shape led a Carnival Arts summer camp for disabled and non- disabled children and young people at Blackfriars Priory in July. 22 participants learnt about dance, drumming, costumer making and each other, culminating in participation in the Carnival.
GDance and Art Shape piloted an ‘Arts Inc lab’ at Blackfriars Priory in September, which we aspire to make an annual event. Twelve emerging disabled and non-disabled artists from a range of disciplines, from graffiti art to choreography to film-making, explored their creative response to the site, as well as collaborations with each other. They have since been mentored and applications are being submitted to Arts Council England for the three groups of artists that emerged to work up their ideas towards production.
GDance premiered its new dance for Camera piece, Feast, in a screening at the Guildhall alongside three other GDance or produced or co-produced films to an invited audience which attracted funders, commissioners, local leading cultural figures, experts in dance/inclusive practice from across the country, including dance companies in Plymouth and Coventry University. One of the films was shot in Gloucester, and has since been distributed across the UK, screened at several Cultural Olympiad related ‘Big Dance’ festivals.
GDance launched a new open class for disabled and non-disabled young people aged 11-21 at City Works in September.
GDance continued to run its Fellowship Scheme which has benefited career and artistic/leadership development of:
PT13112D 8
- Three Gloucester based dance leaders - A musician/composer and 3 film makers from Gloucester
GDance will advertise nationally in November 2012 a Fellowship tailored to support career development of a disable emerging choreographer (who will therefore spend time in the City to benefit of its cultural life).
Create Gloucestershire has used Blackfriars for a meeting with senior leaders of the Arts Council South West region to highlight the possibilities of developing the site as a cultural hub for the City.
Create Gloucestershire has had positive discussions with English Heritage to use 17 Ladybellegate Street as accommodation for artists who would stay there for a peppercorn rent in return for creating work for the community at Blackfriars.
Art Shape has continued to lead consultancy alongside The Churches Conservation Trust regarding the development of St Nicholas’ Church in Westgate Street as a community arts resource.
GDance and Art Shape have begun dialogue with the City Council regarding a potential co-location (subject to future negotiations).
GDance Youth Company which is supporting 12 talented disabled and non disabled young people aged 11-21 began their course in September. They will work on a dance for camera piece; shot at Blackfriars priory with leading dance- for-camera choreographer Lisa May Thomas in Easter 2013. The film will be distributed nationally.
A Hat festival took place in Gloucester on the 13th and 14th July organised by Global Arts in Education (GAINE). The event included a hat parade through the streets and a launch at Blackfriars.
The Folk Museum supported Gloucester’s first Hat festival by hosting a hat exhibition over the summer. The exhibition’s private view and connection with the festival saw many professional and amateur milliners come to the Museum including Stephen Jones. Crafts and other creative activities were also hat themed throughout the summer, so that everyone could get into the hat spirit. Parties of local school children also came to the Museum as part of the city-wide Mad Hatter’s Tea Party.
The Museums saw several creative exhibitions as part of its schedule. Internationally renowned artists PJ Crook and Juri Arrak exhibited to great acclaim at the City Museum, whilst the Folk Museum is currently host to the stunning Calligraphy of the Gloucestershire Lettering Arts. We also held a successful competition exhibition with Artournament over the summer. The City Museum’s latest exhibition is from a diverse group of textile artists collectively known as Zero3.
The dedicated community gallery at the City Museum has continued to provide a platform for schools, local artists and voluntary groups and organisations to showcase their work. The gallery is now fully booked into 2014.
PT13112D 9
The City Council agreed various filming in the City including: Don’t Get Done, Get Dom; Henry IV & Henry V for the Cultural Olympiad on BBC, ESPN commercial filmed in the Docks; All Made Up and the Lost Routes of Britain with Griff Rhys Jones.
Marketing Gloucester is organising the community focused Christmas Lantern Procession which will take place on the 18th November. Giant luminous sea creatures and galleons will be carried over 200 children from six local primary schools. Based on the carol, ‘I saw Three Ships’ the parade will feature dozens of lanterns which have been created by children working with a team of professional artists.
Battersea Arts Centre (BAC) a leading national theatre company has approached Create Gloucestershire to tour and develop work in Gloucester using Blackfriars as a base. (A decision regarding the Strategic Touring Fund to make this happen is pending).
RIO (the bridge organisation for the south west) is developing plans with Create Gloucestershire members to increase take up of Arts Awards in the City – (Gloucestershire is currently behind other areas in the south west region for Arts award Accreditation). This will be part of a high profile project to bring contemporary and cutting edge work to schools in the city.
4. CONSOLIDATING GLOUCESTER’S REPUTATION FOR SPORTING EXCELLENCE AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
This element of the Cultural Strategy requires the right balance between developing world class provision of sporting facilities and achievement with access for all. Gloucester has the lowest participation rates in sport in the County and therefore, increasing participation is important.
The City Council and Gloucester Rugby are working together in a bid to become a host city of the Rugby World Cup 2015. Bid documents were submitted at the end of the summer and we have already got through the first round of the process. The next stage is about the start and successful cities will be announced after Christmas.
Works to refurbish the Blackbridge Athletics Track, which includes the provision of a new 8 lane home straight and repositioned long jump/triple jump pit, have progressed well during some difficult summer weather. The track is now complete and being used again by local athletics clubs. Subject to completion of some ancillary works (to the new entrance and perimeter) arrangements will be put in place for the track to be assessed by UK Athletics so that it achieves the required approval and certification.
Gloucester welcomed the Malawian Olympic team to the city. Aspire, in partnership with the University of Gloucestershire helped the attendance of the team to the Olympics and their pre-Olympic training at GL1 and Oxstalls. The team of four, plus officials were provided accommodation by the University and during their stay not only trained with local clubs, they visited local schools and community groups.
PT13112D 10 On the 24th May, Gloucester played host to the Olympic Torch Relay. The event was a huge success with spectators in excess of 15,000 turning out to see the Torch. It was a fantastic day for Gloucester and partnership working!
Two Aspire employees were nominated to be torch bearers – Terry Parker, a disability tennis coach at Oxstalls and Dan Woodward a swim teacher at GL1.
Gloucester Rowing Club is seeking funding for a new centre to be sited on the Gloucester to Sharpness Canal. It will act as a centre for excellence for both rowing and canoeing, and links with other sports and community uses are being explored.
As part of the Olympic Legacy Group, Aspire was actively involved in empowering our communities within Gloucester to run ‘It’s a Knockout’ festivals, followed by a grand finale at Gloucester Park during the Summer Festival.
The Guildhall team hosted Family Sports Day in the Park on 29th July as part of the Summer Festival. It included the finale of community ‘It’s a Knockout’, Gloucester Athletics demonstrating a number of activities and Asda Active bringing along a variety of sports and activities for everyone to try out.
Throughout May to October Aspire with partners undertook a number of events/activities which were linked to the Olympic Games and their legacy. The aim was to encourage the community of Gloucester to become more healthy and active.
Aspire, along with the City Council, The One Church, Gloucester City Homes and Marketing Gloucester worked together to organise Funfest on Robinswood Hill. A number of cultural and sporting events took place at both the main hill site and the One Church site, with over 2,000 people attending.
GL1 launched a passport scheme to encourage more people to get active and reward their regular use. 192 adults and 293 juniors obtained passports and these were stamped every time they were used. Once the optimum level was reached they received a range of free sessions. Schools were challenged to encourage their pupils and the students at Elmbridge Junior School won a Christmas Party at GL1 as the most active school in Gloucester.
Oxstalls Tennis Centre is being officially re-branded as Oxstalls Park. With the support of Gloucester City Council this brand will recognise the variety of activities now available at Oxstalls – Fun Factory Soft Play Area, fully refurbished synthetic football/hockey pitch, floodlit synthetic clay outdoor courts and refurbished changing rooms.
Oxstalls, working in partnership with the Tennis Foundation and Gloucestershire Down Syndrome Association organised an initial six weeks coaching programme in June 2012. Ten initially took part and the success of the programme continued throughout the summer holidays. As from September
PT13112D 11 2012 the course is now an additional disability session that can be offered at Oxstalls.
Gloucester Schools Tennis Aces programme put a racket into the hands of nearly 1,500 children by offering tennis sessions at school and at the Tennis Centre.
Oxstalls has been awarded LTA Performance Centre Status, providing an opportunity for the most talented players in Gloucestershire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire to train with excellent coaches. The LTA Performance Centre programme is for under 11’s. Three players have been selected by the LTA talent team to train at a regional level in the Midlands.
£125,000 funding was secured from the LTA for resurfacing four of Oxstalls outdoor courts and floodlighting to provide a year round programme growing our mini and junior programme further.
GL1 received a Quest rating of ‘good’ for its recent review (Quest is the national assessment for the service delivery for recreational facilities supported and funded by Sport England).
From April to September a 20m x 10m synthetic ice rink was installed over the existing indoor bowls green at GL1. In previous years this was an unused space in the summer. It provided a new facility for the young people of Gloucester to keep active.
Aspire, Gloucester Blazers and other community groups put on a basketball festival to celebrate basketball during the Olympic year at the Oval for both juniors and adults with over 200 people attending.
As part of a drive to tap into inner city badminton junior talent the Smash Badminton Project was created. Glos Stars Badminton Club (the city’s only premier and performance centre club) and Aspire with the aid of a £5,000 grant from the Glos Assembly delivered road shows to schools followed by a festival at GL1 and then signposting to clubs at GL1. So far, six schools have received curricular or after school coaching.
Gloucester Futsal Revolution – embarked on their first season in the national league first division after gaining promotion from division 2 last year. Over half the team have come through the age groups and are from the city areas of Barton, Tredworth and White City.
Aspire’s ‘Learn to Swim’ programme achieved over 1,000 children attending its lessons for the first time this summer with over 140 new children attending.
Aspire launched their new websites in September as part of an online overhaul. The websites have had an overwhelmingly positive response having had nearly 10,000 visits between them to date.
PT13112D 12 Aspire has become the first UK leisure trust to launch a fully functional mobile application. The app is available for iphone, ipad an android devices and is free to download. Customers are able to view timetables, class information and information about facilities. They are able to choose a default facility for their phone to go when they load the app for instant access to their club. We are able to send notifications, advertising special offers or announcing special offers.
All of the Aspire facilities now have a dedicated Facebook, Twitter and Foursquare profile. This gives customers a way to directly connect and interact with Aspire. The posts are a combination of health and fitness information, club and company news and various other announcements. The feeds are also used to drive traffic back to the websites.
An alternative Folk Olympics, based on the core disciplines and skills of the Olympic and Paralympics events was held in the Folk Museum garden throughout the school summer holidays.
Marketing Gloucester organised a BiG Sporting weekend in the Docks after the Olympics. The event showcased a range of sports and activities to encourage people to become more active building on the success of the Olympics.
The Guildhall hosted all England matches for Euro 2012 championship – boasting the largest screen in Gloucestershire with average attendance of 150 per match.
5. ENJOYING AND SUPPORTING DIVERSITY
Gloucester is the second most diverse city in the South West after Bristol. In light of this, the consultants developing the Cultural Strategy in 2007 found that the city had a reasonable number of community groups representing different faiths, cultures, genders, generations and areas of personal interest.
A voluntary and community fun day was held on the 6th June in Kings Square. This event highlighted all the good practice and value for money that the VCS deliver using Gloucester City Council awarded grants. The day was a success with 800-1000 people in attendance, with stage performances from Young Gloucestershire, Tongues of Fire Theatre and Tamil Community Association to name a few. Along with free fun activities for the whole family. The following three days then saw a free multi-media exhibition of the VCS outcomes at St. Michael’s Tower.
To improve the customer experience at the Guildhall we have installed new building signage throughout the venue so that the building is as accessible and customer friendly as possible.
Gloucestershire Pride – the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transexual event took place again at Gloucester Park on 16th June, where approximately 800 people were in attendance, enjoying the local and national talent on stage, dancing in the dance tents and perusing the numerous stalls. The Pride started the celebrations by speeches in Westgate Street outside Shire Hall followed by a carnival procession of rainbow colours through the gated streets to Gloucester Park.
PT13112D 13 Gloucester is currently topping the county charts for apprenticeship starts/ achievements performance. The City is going the extra mile with higher apprenticeships and our over 25 performance is also very encouraging as this shows up-skilling of the existing workforce.
The Economic Development Team is currently working in partnership with Adult Education to establish a business course for the hard to reach groups in the area. This course will be based on best practice from the Forest Means Business Scheme and target individuals who are currently in receipt of benefits and from deprived wards within the City.
The Council is proud to sponsor Women at Work for a second year running. This conference encourages female business women to take a day out of the businesses to meet and network with like minded people, to celebrate local success stories, gain inspiration and enhance their skills thanks to the carefully selected workshops.
Gloucester Guildhall’s Cinema Focus Group continues to prove popular and is helping to shape our cinema programme going forward. Changes have included an increase in the number of foreign films, family film screenings and the introduction of Mystery Movie to the programme, which is proving very popular.
With partners Create Gloucestershire and the ‘Battle of the Winds’ (Cultural Olympiad project) producer, GDance produced and promoted the community arts offer for the Olympic Torch celebration at Cheltenham Racecourse. Over 400 performers disabled and non-disabled and from multiple faiths and cultures were involved, including Gloucester based groups: Gloucester Hindu Cultural Association, StreetHouseStudios (based at GL1) and two specially- commissioned community dance pieces produced by Gloucester based GDance.
Gloucester based production and training company GDance has convened a new National Inclusive Dance Network, which will work to address perennial issues for disabled participants and artists, including youth talent development pathways. A major national seminar will be held most likely in Gloucester in 2014.
GDance, Art Shape, Fairgame Theatre and Create Gloucestershire undertook a strategic review, consultation and development work through a Gloucestershire Assembly grant. This has resulted in a vision to establish Gloucester as nationally recognised beacon for inclusive arts practice. Fundraising to support a joint plan which works towards this vision is underway.
The launch of ‘Paws on Patrol’ in Gloucester Park took place in May. Over 2,000 people attended in the Park with demonstrations of Police dogs, dog agility and novelty dog show with trade stands and activities. Consequently, we now have over 600 residents who are keen to keep their neighbourhoods free of crime and anti social behaviour.
PT13112D 14 Local cross cultural ladies group, WINGZ held their annual Ramadan awareness talk and meal at the City Museum. The Museum was felt to be a friendly welcoming venue that all sections of our community felt comfortable attending.
The Museums Service continues to offer a rewarding volunteer experience to people from all walks of life and all ages. Our oldest volunteer is in her 80’s and the youngest was 16. We are now extending our offer from curatorial and research opportunities to the public galleries and city wide events. The Service won an award for providing excellent work experience opportunities.
Museums staff have supported local secondary schools in providing careers information about the heritage sector. This has involved helping with career fayres, providing work based learning opportunities and assembly talks.
During October, a team commissioned by the BBC filmed scenes across the City for a television documentary celebrating Aethelflaed of Gloucester and highlighting how she excelled at roles traditionally associated with men.
6. PLANNING FOR A TRANSFORMATIONAL PROJECT
The Cultural Strategy suggests that the transformational project should be of international importance and be based on a strong public and private partnership. At the time of developing the Cultural Strategy in 2007, it was not clear what this project should be; only that it should put Gloucester on the map.
On 1st June Gloucester City Council held the official launch event of Blackfriars Priory, opened by Sir Timothy Lawrence, husband of HRH The Princess Royal and English Heritage Commissioner. The event was designed to showcase a variety of creative uses for the site. A key part of the Council’s plan for the venue is to preserve the site’s historic and heritage aspects, creating an educational package and improved visitor facilities. The re-opening of Blackfriars marks a significant step in the Council’s long term regeneration strategy for the City, and our plans to create a ‘cultural quarter’.
7. MARKETING AND PROMOTING GLOUCESTER
The consultants involved in helping to create the City’s Cultural Strategy felt that Gloucester should make more of what already existed in the City and that the cultural message should be woven into Gloucester’s marketing collateral. The new cultural image that the consultants refer to is set out in strands 2 and 3 of the Cultural Strategy, however, they include making our heritage and culture more accessible and developing Gloucester’s image as being a cool place to be as opposed to Regency Cheltenham.
In tandem with this, residents should feel involved in their City through regular communications and public events. They also advised that Gloucester’s brand should be significantly improved. This was one of the purposes in the creation of Marketing Gloucester who have worked in consultation with partners to develop a brand for the City. The success of Gloucester Guildhall through its ability to gain coverage in national media is also responsible for improving the City’s image at a national and regional level.
PT13112D 15 Create Gloucestershire’s first birthday party and launch of their associate scheme took place in Blackfriars on the 2nd November bringing movers and shakers together in the creative and cultural industries in the region to Gloucester.
The Economic Development Team has developed a Gloucester Commercial Opportunities Guide that outlines major employment sites across the city to attract inward investment. A supplementary facts and figures guide is in production to support investment activities.
The Believe in Gloucester campaign celebrates everything that is great about Gloucester, from its history to food and drink specialities. Its aim is to develop a sense of community belief in the City and add value and economic prosperity, creating opportunities for residents, visitors and businesses in the area. Twelve reasons to Believe in Gloucester have been developed along with a proposed calendar of events to help support and celebrate Gloucester’s successes, including the BiG Eat Week, BiG Sporting Weekend and BiG Independents Day.
On the 4th July Marketing Gloucester launched an Independent Shops Brochure, designed to promote the various independent stores in the City to visitors. This also coincided with the BiG Independents Day in which various independent ships provided special offers and Gloucester’s first ever night market.
Gloucester Guildhall’s Facebook page now have over 2,900 likes and the Twitter page has over 2,000 followers which is used on a daily basis to interact and consult with our customers to help us improve the service we offer.
The Guildhall has launched a weekly cine-news e-newsletter to keep our customers up to date with the latest films we have booked.
Marketing Gloucester and Gloucester Quays worked with the City’s marketing group (including City attractions and businesses such as the Waterways Museum , Soldiers of Gloucestershire, English Holiday Cruises, Gloucester Antiques Centre and Gloucester Civic Trust) to deliver a Group Travel Hospitality Day, which saw more than 60 group travel operators and coach companies visit the City for a familiarisation day to encourage them to include the City in their tour itineraries., which has since resulted in additional group visits to the City.
The Cultural Services Group maintained its Customer Service Excellence award after a tri-annual major assessment. Not only did the Group meet all of the fifty plus criteria, but in a number of areas achieved compliance pluses which demonstrates excellence in customer service delivery.
The Ed Shed at the Folk Museum is the location for the City’s monthly ‘Made’ market.
One of the City’s medieval treasures, the Gloucester Tables Set, took centre stage in a major exhibition held in Mayenne, Northern France. The event gathered items from 29 museums across France and Germany and appears on the list issued by the French Minister of Culture of the cultural events that are of national importance to France in 2012.
PT13112D 16 An aspect of Gloucester’s unique heritage was reported across the world, attracting special attention from America in particular, when the Museums revived the ancient practice of presenting the Monarch with a Lamprey Pie for the Jubilee. It was the subject of newspaper and journal articles as well as radio broadcast both here and in America. The local community got involved by adding their own Jubilee wishes to a special pie created by the Museums and presented to the Earl and Countess of Wessex at Gloucester Cathedral.
The Council’s marketing team have re-worked City Life, the residents’ magazine to promote city-wide events.
Marketing Gloucester exhibited at the Group Leisure and Travel Show in Birmingham in September along with a consortium of business from the City. A new exhibition stand was produced under the title: Gloucester – Cathedral City of the Cotswolds. Partners who exhibited included Gloucester Quays, Gloucester Antiques Centre, Soldiers of Gloucestershire Museum, Gloucester Waterways Museum and English Holiday Cruises. A database of 250 group travel organisers who visited the stand was complied.
The Visit Cotswolds Guide 2013 guide will be completed later this month featuring information on Gloucester. A new brochure lead generation campaign is being run on the Telegraph website.
Marketing Gloucester produced and distributed the Summer in Gloucester leaflet to promote the busy summer schedule of events.
Following the redevelopment of the cityofgloucester.co.uk website, online traffic has seen a significant increase. In 2012’s figures compared to corresponding months in 2011. The City of Gloucester’s social media channels are experiencing a similar upsurge in activity. The Gloucester Facebook page has 8,560 likes (in comparison Visit York has 6,829). There is still room for improvement on Twitter where @VisitGloucester has 3,023 followers.
Marketing Gloucester started using Klout (the industry standard online social media measuring tool) in June 2012 and saw a jump of more than 20 points to a score of 53. The score in November is 61, placing Marketing Gloucester in the top three most influential social media accounts in Gloucester. Live ’Facebooking’ and ‘tweeting’ during festivals saw a record number of interactions with the public and contributed to Marketing Gloucester’s high score.
4.0 Alternative Options Considered
4.1 Not applicable. None considered.
5.0 Reasons for Recommendations
5.1 The progress made during the last six months has been significant and has certainly contributed to putting Gloucester on the map and contributing to the City’s regeneration.
PT13112D 17 5.2 The City Council is developing strong relationships with cultural organisations which have helped to re-invigorate and improve the Summer in Gloucester Festival, particularly around the Carnival activities.
5.3 The strength of this last period has been the sheer volume of festivals and events that have been delivered either by the City Council, Marketing Gloucester, Gloucester Quays or through other partners such as the Cathedral. This success should be built upon for 2013 as a way of raising the profile of the City both regional and nationally.
6.0 Future Work and Conclusions
6.1 Members will receive the next cultural update in May 2013 which will update them on progress made during the period November 2012 to May 2013.
6.2 Work will start on the creation of a new and updated Cultural Strategy for the City by working with cultural partners to develop something that challenges the City, and yet is realistic and achievable.
7.0 Financial Implications
7.1 There are no financial implications relating to this report at this stage. The Council is not committed to any additional expenditure. Future projects may have financial implications for the council which will be investigated individually.
(Financial Services have been consulted in the preparation this report.)
8.0 Legal Implications
8.1 There are no legal implications relating to this report.
(Legal Services have been consulted in the preparation this report.)
9.0 Risk & Opportunity Management Implications
9.1 None at this stage. Appropriate risk management will be undertaken for each City Council project as they arise.
10.0 People Impact Assessment (PIA):
10.1 This is not a new policy or action. It is purely a document to update on progress.
10.2 As part of the People Impact Assessments the Cultural Strategy will need to be reviewed in terms of best practice. A full review will take place over the coming months and an overarching PIA will be produced.
10.3 The Cultural Strategy celebrates all areas of our community. A key strand of the strategy is ‘enjoying and supporting diversity’.
PT13112D 18 11.0 Other Corporate Implications
Community Safety
11.1 There remains a perception by some that the City is not a safe place in the evening – work still needs to be achieved in promoting the city as a safe place to visit to enjoy cultural activities in the evening and the night-time.
The introduction of entry charges, particularly at the City Museum has impacted positively on some of the anti-social behaviour that was taking place prior to the charges being introduced.
Sustainability
11.2 Sustainability issues will be addressed within individual projects within the action plan.
Staffing & Trade Union
11.3 Not applicable.
Background Documents: None
PT13112D 19