Cultural Strategy

Introduction

Leisure and cultural activities are an important aspect of everyday life in making us healthier and happier, as well as providing opportunities for social interaction and learning. Culture and leisure covers a multitude of areas such as sport, heritage, libraries, arts, tourism and recreational countryside, all taking place in a diversity of settings. Also gaining recognition is the difference these areas can make to the economy, social inclusion, local identity and quality of education.

Herefordshire Cultural Strategy

The Strategy was updated in 2009, building on the previous strategy that was produced for the Herefordshire Council in 1999. The aim of the strategy is to form a framework for future development in culture and leisure as an overarching strategy for the areas of arts, tourism, heritage, libraries, recreational use of the countryside, sport and physical activity. Each of these areas has its own distinct requirements, but they also share a great deal in common. It is through bringing these areas together, and co-ordinating future planning that a real difference can be made.

Research and Data

The vision and recommendations of the Cultural Strategy have been formulated through a wider range of consultation and research. This includes a Cultural Questionnaire to assess local residents participation in different cultural activities in the county. Some of the find showed that:

• About 1 in 7 residents go to the cinema once or twice a month, whilst 1 in 16 go to an arts centre / theatre over the same period
• 58% of those involved in the arts say they are mentally stimulating
• 41% of all respondents are satisfied with the arts provision; 30% neither satisfied or dissatisfied and 13% dissatisfied
• Churches are the most visited historic venue, with about 3 in 10 visiting at least once or twice a month
• Residents feel the main benefit from participating in historic or heritage activities is gaining knowledge and skills
• 31% of all respondents are satisfied with the provision of historical and heritage activities and venues, with 11% expressing some level of dissatisfaction
• 68% of residents use or have an interest in libraries
• Nine out of ten residents borrow books from a library on a regular basis, with one in ten doing so once a week or more
• 54% of residents are satisfied with the library facilities in Herefordshire
• 46% of residents in the County play, or have an interest in sport, with a high level of participation in swimming, going to the gym and cycling
• A majority, 69%, of people who participate in sport recognise the physical benefits, at least half appreciate feeling mentally stimulated and 50% feel more relaxed
• 73% of residents take part in, visit, or have an interest in recreation and outdoor activity - this is dominated by walking with 50% of people walking at least once a week
• 63% of people thought culture and leisure in general is good for children and young people; 53% thought good for the economy; 51% felt they provided social opportunities and similarly felt culture and leisure improves well being.

Although most of the results are positive there are some key points to build on. This includes a high proportion of residents wanting to know more about opportunities to get involved in activities. Also, 32% of residents travel outside the County for cultural and leisure activities, mainly to visit the theatre and sport meetings because of the lack of provision in the County. The research also showed that people on low incomes, those with disabilities and those over 60 years old were less likely to be involved.

Herefordshire Cultural Consortium

Herefordshire Cultural Strategy is published by Herefordshire Council in collaboration with Herefordshire Cultural Consortium. The Consortium contributes to the development of cultural provision for the whole of the County and has a membership representing all the areas highlighted in the Strategy covering the public, voluntary and education sectors. The Consortium maintain the cultural strategy and plan to re-write it in 2011.