CIVIC chiefs are due to rubber stamp the council's cultural strategy up to 2030.

Council officers and Cllr Lucille Thompson, cabinet member for business and culture, have developed a stakeholder group of organisations to develop festivals and events across the district by 2030.

The strategy will be approved at the Winchester City Council cabinet meeting on Thursday, March 14. 

The partners, including organisations such as The Nutshell, Play to the Crowd and Hampshire Cultural Trust, have co-designed the plan and chosen the values of inclusivity, collaboration, ambition, resilience and being distinctly Winchester.

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The aim by 2030 is to have developed a youth movement, be attracting external investment, have a growing number of festivals and events attracting new and existing audience, boost the health and wellbeing of residents, a greater proportion of the cultural and creative workforce and audiences will be from a diverse background and culture will be pivotal to Winchester’s identity.

To tackle financial difficulties, members of the stakeholder group have recommended developing joint funding bids, building relationships with corporate partners and funders and making them aware of the cultural sector’s worth and exploring private investment methods such as a ‘100 club’ which would secure donations from 100 different organisations.

Speaking at the economy and housing policy committee in February, Cllr Thompson said: “The cultural sector is really struggling with funding cuts, we could lose all sorts of organisations and creative outlets as a result.

“As a council, we can’t be relied upon to deliver the aims. I’m really pleased to see that there is a real commitment from the stakeholders who we have got to know so well.

“We need to champion what we already have. We have a fantastic festival programme and we need to make space for new creative businesses.”

In the report to cabinet, it said: “Winchester district already has a well-established and recognised culture and creative sector which delivers for both visitors and residents. From events such as Boomtown, Wickham Festival and Hat Fair, to iconic heritage such as Winchester Cathedral and Bishop's Waltham Palace, through to multi-use spaces such as The Arc. There is a thriving creative industries scene with over 350 design companies, 300 film, television and video organisations and 100 architecture firms. 

“The possibilities within community infrastructure, independent and grassroots creative activity must also be acknowledged, particularly in the more rural areas of the district.”