Public asked to help shape Shropshire's cultural future
Members of the public are being asked to help shape the cultural future of Shropshire.
A public consultation has opened on proposed changes to the cultural heritage of Shropshire.
A new ‘cultural strategy’ – covering a wide range of subjects from the arts and architecture to sports and tourism – is being developed by Shropshire Council.
Officers want to hear from the public on how these changes should be made.
The aim of the strategy is to provide the vision and ambition to support and strengthen activities across the county and Shropshire’s cultural sector, to direct new investment into cultural opportunities including museums, the countryside, libraries, events and activities.
The strategy will recognise that the provision of more support for the development of an attractive cultural offer will improve the life of every resident and provide a quality offer that will attract visitors to Shropshire.
TDuring the consultation, three workshops have been organised in which those attending will have the opportunity to share their views and ideas on the development of a new cultural strategy.
These will be held on November 28 in Ludlow, November 29 in Oswestry and December 12 in Shrewsbury.
The cultural sector includes arts, sports, libraries, reading, museums, heritage, archaeology, archives, architecture, crafts, children’s play, parks, open spaces and green networks, countryside recreation, leisure, tourism, and the cultural and creative industries.
Lezley Picton, cabinet member for culture and leisure, said: “Culture inspires us all. Whether it’s through attractions like museums, art galleries, the theatre and our heritage or via sport, leisure, the countryside or libraries, culture shapes how we live, work and play.
“With Shropshire’s rich cultural history, we have a key opportunity to develop a strong and attractive cultural offer to attract visitors to the county and, more importantly, enhance the opportunities available to county residents.
“The key aims of the cultural strategy have been developed to enable us to do just that. They are to drive economic prosperity, strengthen local communities, to promote health and wellbeing and to support lifelong learning.”
She added: “We look forward to hearing your thoughts and feedback on the development of a new cultural strategy for Shropshire.”
The consultation will end on January 5 2018 and the feedback received will be used to inform the development of the final strategy.
To take part in the consultation go to https://new.shropshire.gov.uk/get-involved
