That Cabinet approves the endorsement of the Herefordshire Cultural Strategy 2019-2029.

The Cultural Strategy reflects the approach to supporting arts, culture and heritage as stated in the Herefordshire Council County Plan 2020-2024

The Cultural Strategy provides a basis for collaborative working and for supporting bids for external funding to support the sustainability and development of the arts, culture and heritage sector in Herefordshire.

That:

Cabinet agrees to endorse the Herefordshire Cultural Strategy 2019-2029 to inform and support its work with the arts, cultural and heritage sectors in the county.

1.          Cabinet could choose not to endorse the Cultural Strategy. This could have a limiting impact on future funding bids and also send a negative message to the arts, culture and heritage sector. This may also have a negative effect on the reputation of the council amongst the arts, culture and heritage sector both in Herefordshire and more widely. Failure to endorse the Cultural Strategy may also lead to missed opportunities to support wider growth and development in other sectors such as tourism and local creative industries.