UK Music chief says music should be at the heart of York’s new cultural strategy

03 December 2020 - Press release

UK Music Chief Executive Jamie Njoku-Goodwin has outlined how music can play a crucial role in York’s new five-year cultural strategy.

In a keynote speech at the launch of the city’s new cultural strategy, entitled York’s Creative Future, Jamie outlined how music could help York be at the forefront of the “post-pandemic economic and cultural regeneration”.

To an audience of more than 100 delegates, including some of England’s top culture experts, Jamie also highlighted in his speech how music could continue to boost York’s economy.

Jamie Njoku-Goodwin said:
“Music is central to all of our lives. It is a key part of our country’s cultural fabric and is integral to the vibrant arts scene in York. It also brings huge economic benefits.

“Our new research has found that in 2019, live music brought more than 600,000 music tourists to Yorkshire and the Humber, generating hundreds of millions of pounds of spending. In York alone, live music directly contributed £5.3m to the local economy in 2019.

“Venues such as the Crescent, the York Barbican and Fulford Arms play a key role in York’s music success story and we must do all we can to ensure they flourish and get the support they desperately need as we look to recover from COVID-19.

“I know that York’s Creative Future will play a crucial part in ensuring music and culture is inclusive and accessible to everyone in the city, and will be at the forefront of the post-pandemic economic and cultural regeneration.”

The strategy was released on Thursday December 3rd alongside a commitment to urgently focus on the areas of culture most in need, as a result of the effect of COVID-19 pandemic on the sector.

It aims to boost cultural activity in the city and places culture at the heart of activities - from major capital developments to residents’ wellbeing and cultural entitlement for every child.

The strategy pledges to ensure culture is relevant and accessible to everybody in York, regardless of age, background or where they live.

You can find out more about York’s cultural transformation and download ‘York’s Creative Future’ here:www.makeityork.com/culture.

 

Read the speech here.