Southampton: An International City of Culture

Mike Harris, Head of Leisure and Culturemike.d.harris@Southampton.gov.uk

023 8083 2882

Southampton’s arts and heritage assets2

• Nearly 17,000 school children visited the gallery and museums during 2007-08

• The BizzBazz project at the City Art Gallery inspired Hounsdown School to work with London Zoo!

• Over 1 million people participated in at least one arts and heritage activity in Southampton during 2006-07

Did You Know3

• 19,000 people visited the ArtVaults installations over 24 days in Summer 2007. These medieval vaults and 5 other high quality heritage venues are available for corporate hire across the city

• Southampton’s Art Collection and Archaeology Collections have special government status because of their national importance. Nearly 300 art works from our collection are hired out to over 35 businesses and organisations across the SE region

Did You Know4

2009: 200 years since Jane Austen lived in

Southampton

2010: 100 year anniversary of Southampton airport

2012: 100 year anniversary of Titanic disaster

2015: 600 years since the Battle of Agincourt

2016: 1000 year anniversary of crowning of King Canute

2020: 400 years since Mayflower set sail

2022: 800th Mayor

Key Milestones5

City of Southampton Strategy – Towards 2026

Six strategic objectives:

1. People proud of their city & making a positive contribution

2. Innovation and learning at its heart

3. A dynamic business environment

4. An attractive, sustainable and stimulating environment

5. Imaginative arts and cultural opportunities6. A unique sense of place

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Priorities

• Strategic Opportunities and Cultural Clusters

• Participation

• Educational Attainment

• Creative industries

• Modernising Delivery

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• Over £25 million:

Southampton New Arts Complex (£11.9 million)

Guildhall Square (£4.6 million)

Tudor House Phase 1 (c. £1.3 million) Tudor House Phase 2 (c. £5.4 million)*HLF Stage 1 Pass

North-South Spine (£6.4 million already committed)

AIF-funded Halation Project (£80,000)

Planned Investment9

• A partnership consortium to facilitate joined up activity across the arts and heritage sector and champion the cultural elements of the City of Southampton Strategy

• 311 organisations and practitioners involved

• 4 working groups: Cultural Olympiad; Communications; Education, Creative Industries

• Action Plan includes: Communication Strategy; Southampton Shows Off event; Cultural Olympiad programming; Southampton Film Week; artist studio spaces

SHAPe10

• PUSH-related bid

• Enhanced cultural offer for young people in deprived areas of Southampton, Portsmouth and urban South Hampshire

• Led by Hampshire CC with Southampton City Council, Portsmouth City Council and Creative Partnerships as lead partners

• Success – one of 10 pilot bids selected out of over 140 applications to share £25 million funding over 3 years

Cultural Offer11

Key Messages

• Southampton is a Cultural City

• There are great aspirations and a significant programme

• We should be confident in the value of culture

• We welcome feedback

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