Culture Partnership

IMPROVING QUALITY OF LIFE CULTURE - A WAY OF LIFE

WHERE WE ARE NOW

Culture and Sport are an integral part of people’s lives. They are diverse, bind communities together and can improve quality of life. However this is a highly personal perception and therefore, it is crucial to acknowledge and accept the diversity of culture in everything we do.

Trafford already has an enviable array of cultural facilities that attract considerable numbers of visitors both from within and outside the Borough. With iconic venues such as the two Old Trafford's of Manchester United and Lancashire County Cricket Club, the Trafford Centre and the Imperial War Museum North, we are the envy of
our neighbours and well placed as a regionally significant resource for cultural activities and opportunities.

However, there is a large divide between the resources available to these large cultural organisations and smaller local community and voluntary groups, societies and services as well as between wards in different parts of the Borough. Both of these disparities are something we will be addressing with the Cultural Partnership. Nevertheless voluntary sector partnerships and Creative Industries networks are already working well in implementing relevant initiatives to help tackle this disparity.

By its very nature, the cultural sector is always evolving. It is also one of the major vehicles in ensuring the growing reputation of Trafford as a great place to live and visit, significantly contributing to and supporting healthier and safer communities, sustainable neighbourhoods and more equal opportunities for young and older
people. However, we will do more to raise the profile and value of culture and to develop and strengthen partnerships which will ensure the sustainable development of cultural provision and opportunities.

WHERE WE WANT TO BE IN 2021

By 2021, Trafford will be recognised as the leading authority in the region for culture. Our leading cultural attractions will be proud to be a part of, and act as champions for our Borough. We will recognise culture as a leading tool for engaging, empowering, interacting with and impacting upon communities and individuals.

WHAT WE WILL DO TO GET THERE

We will:

• Work in partnership to realise our goals and aspirations, cultivating positive partnerships that drive the cultural ambitions of our communities.
• Continue to progress the cultural strategy of ‘Live Life Trafford’ through the Cultural and Community Partnerships.
• Ensure that our cultural strategy is representative of our diverse cultural communities and that we actively seek to engage with under represented groups.
• Provide support for smaller groups, isolated communities and hard to reach groups so that they become more involved and included in cultural networks.
• Use our resources effectively and share expertise, which will enable us to match aspirations with our partners.
• Raise the profile of culture, celebrating our cultural diversity, showcasing local culture, and ensuring that we continuously inform our communities of cultural opportunities they can get involved in.
• Lobby those in influential positions, particularly decision and policy makers.
• Develop cultural ambassadors, advocates and champions to help us to raise the profile of culture in the area, and in turn the identity of Trafford as a cultural hotspot.

PRIORITIES FOR 2006-2009

The first steps towards achieving these goals will be to:

• Develop local cultural networks and infrastructure encompassing all cultural services and voluntary, semi-professional and professional organisations.
• Raise the profile of cultural events and organisations in the Borough.
• Increase levels of cultural activities and participation in the Borough.
• Identify and make best use of existing resources and facilities.
• Encourage the development of new investment in the cultural sector.

HOW YOU WILL KNOW THAT WE ARE SUCCEEDING

We will have:

• Increased access to and more people participating in culture.
• More culturally informed people and communities.
• Eliminated any pockets of cultural deprivation.
• Recognition and celebration of cultural diversity.
• Widespread recognised value of culture.
• Contributed significantly to political agendas and policy making.
• A sustainable framework in place to ensure continuous development of cultural partnerships.

Furthermore, The Cultural Partnership will monitor the delivery of the Strategy through annual action plans, their goals and achievements and The Citizens’ Panel will be surveyed biannually to measure levels of satisfaction and perception of the cultural vitality of Trafford.