By Isle of Wight Observer
As ever, there’s always plenty going on in my portfolio, and it’s great to have an opportunity to do a deeper dive on some aspects.
In November, alongside Creative Island, we launched the Island’s Cultural Strategy, which has been long overdue, and gives all of us involved in creativity a blueprint to work from. In the IW Council’s Regeneration Strategy, published in 2019, around a third of all people in work were employed in a creative role, which shows how important it is to acknowledge and support the sector.
Our cultural assets and activities are also a massive draw for our visitors. At the Visit Isle of Wight conference earlier this month, we learnt that 38 per cent of our economy is down to tourism, so the connection with having a strong and supported cultural sector is intertwined with our economy. The Island also being a priority place for Arts Council England has brought invaluable investment, now we have gone up from two to five National Portfolio organisations, meaning they have guaranteed core funding for four years, enabling them to focus on delivering across the Island. In April, the National Council from Arts Council England is visiting the Island, which is a great honour and opportunity to show what we do.
We are currently waiting to hear whether we have been successful in our application from Arts Council England for some funding to carry out physical improvements at Dinosaur Isle, and we are about to put in another application for Newport’s Guildhall.
Another of our council-owned listed buildings, Sandown Town Hall, is in receipt of a £3.1m investment from the Government’s Youth Investment Fund and works are underway there. Similarly, we are awaiting a decision on our application for accessibility improvements for Cowes and Ryde Libraries. I understand that, now Ryde have their fantastic investment from government of £20m over 10 years, the Ryde Town Hall rejuvenation is a real possibility.
It’s always difficult when finances are tight, and a lot of work goes into putting funding bids in; however, doing nothing also has a cost, buildings deteriorate, services suffer and costs increase. Seizing opportunities and working in partnership is a fundamental part of our regeneration strategy.