Cllr Astaire – Opening Speech
Good morning. It gives me great pleasure to welcome you all here today for what I hope will be an invigorating discussion.
I'm absolutely thrilled to see such a wide range of arts and cultural organisations represented here today – from the Tate and the NPG to local theatres, major landowners and some of the best hotels in the world – all of you help make Westminster's cultural offering so unique – and so envied.
It's been a year since we last met at the Symposion – I know the great things we're all doing – and one phrase on everyone's lips is the Cultural Olympiad.
I'd like to thank Sketch for hosting the event – quite frankly what better stage for a debate on the Cultural Olympiad and closer links between business and cultural organisations, than a venue that fuses art, fashion and culture in – i'm sure you'll agree – such a flamboyant way.
So why are we here today? We're here to discuss the opportunities that the Cultural Olympiad presents us all with – to debate and to generate ideas. Today you'll hear from Bill Morris, Director of Culture, Ceremonies and Education at the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games – who will set out the key national aims of the Olympiad – Values, Ceremonies and Events – and what this means for Westminster. Bill will then take questions from the floor. We are incredibly lucky and honoured to have Bill speaking today – we are well aware that we're privileged – Bill does not regularly do this sort of thing for other boroughs.
James Bidwell, chief executive of Visit London will present the economic view – how London can use the Olympiad to showcase itself in a new light, London's plans for Beijing and beyond.
And finally, Jace Tyrell – head of communications at the New West End Company will explore Olympic opportunities and challenges for the West End – the life hub of our city – and the role the business community should play in securing the right economic legacy.
You might well wonder why – when arts and cultural organisations are so central to the Olympiad and today's discussions – why I haven't chosen an arts organisation to speak to you. I want arts organisations to play a vital challenge role – listening to the vision we set out today – then questioning, challenging and demanding that we meet our ambitions and the expectations of Westminster and its residents.
The Cultural Olympiad represents not only an opportunity to showcase the fantastic galleries, theatres, arts spaces and venues in Westminster to an international audience – but also the catalyst to build relationships between sectors, between boroughs and between organisations.
So let's put this all in context – why do the arts and culture matter to this city? Put at its simplest level – dynamism in arts and culture creates a dynamic borough. Culture has both intellectual and economic power. The creative industries now account for more than 7% of the economy – growing at 5% every year.
Indeed in Westminster, the creative industries sector employs almost 56, 000 people – 7,000 businesses working in the fields of advertising, design, film production, television and radio, fashion, performing arts – the list goes on – and indeed, we must use a wide interpretation that embraces all of these fields. The city is one of the most important locations for British film and broadcasting production. But success goes hand in hand with responsibility – one that we all share – to educate and inspire.
Westminster is a place of diversity and of contrast. It is home to over 240,000 residents. Some of the world's wealthiest, most educated and cultured people live here, but four of Westminster's local wards are among the ten most deprived localities in Britain – and here arts and culture can change their lives. The role of the Arts in our city is far wider than merely providing distraction and activity within the community. The Arts fulfill a vital role – from renewal and wealth creation – to providing oft needed outputs of creativity and self expression in a positive form.
And in Westminster we intend that the Cultural Olympiad is not simply about display, but is about learning, empowering and lasting legacy through people as well as place, building on the great foundations of work already ongoing in the City.
I can't mention all of the inspiring arts and cultural work currently underway in Westminster, but let me give you a flavour:
● At the ICA and Photographer's Gallery – internship programmes are raising young people's awareness of employment in cultural and creative industries in the City.
● The Cultural Co-operation Music Village – showcasing music forms from Muslim countries all across the world - giving people a sense of community – and celebrating difference.
● The Shared Experience Youth Theatre – giving young people the chance to take part in professional acting on camera – learning skills they might not otherwise have the chance to.
● And then there's Shape – a leading disability arts organisation with a volunteer escort service for deaf and disabled people in Westminster enabling them to attend cultural events in London.
● And finally, that all important body – the family. The English National Opera has established a family learning project enabling parents/ carers and children to work together creatively on a music and drama project.
All worthwhile projects – all demonstrating the importance of art and culture in educating, inspiring, encouraging young people to learn. These are real examples of the power of the arts to bring people together – helping to promote community cohesion, understanding and respect.
What makes Westminster's cultural resource so unique is the range of local, national and international organisations and venues, as represented here today. But it is not only the institutions, but also the people, and our Cultural Olympiad should champion them above all.
So what are Westminster's aspirations for the Cultural Olympiad?
Our aim is to have a cultural legacy established by the Olympiad that is ongoing and organic.
We want to:
● challenge concepts of elitism – breaking down barriers and giving residents a sense of entitlement to cultural activities
● bring increased participation in creative activities and find new audiences to challenge and encourage
● we want to strengthen the creative sector and enhance partnerships between those cultural and arts organisations already doing so much good
● build a more highly skilled workforce for the creative industries
● and create positive and sustainable volunteering and leisure experiences
We will create local, national and international partnerships drawing on our resources – physical, institutional and communal - through the Cultural Olympiad to reflect the spirit and values of the Olympics.
This may be a bold ambition, but I believe it is not only achievable, but vital.
Mirroring the five Olympic rings – we have 5 key aims
● Increased community
● Greater accessibility
● Lasting legacy
● Educational benefits
● High visibility
And our cultural quarters – at Exhibition Road and Central Westminster – will be central to our ambitious plans. The majority of the cultural institutions found in these quarters have the ability to educate and breakthrough barriers at a local level. With all of these organisations starting to work together, which the Cultural Olympiad must only encourage, the opportunity to build on these is seemingly boundless.
Many of you already provide learning, participation and work experience opportunities for Westminster residents, and it is our aim to work with you to spread this offer even further – across our communities and share expertise and facilities with our smaller cultural organisations.
In the face of recent Arts Council cuts – and in what will be tight budget rounds going forward, w must learn to share resources.
Our expectations are high with so many fantastic venues and opportunities, and we must ensure that we deliver events that meet these expectations. We can use the Olympiad to celebrate diversity – and to promote understanding.
The Westminster Festival of Cultures, just one of our ideas for the Olympiad, will do exactly that – and let me tell you a bit about this. The Festival of World Cultures would be a themed celebration of cultures as reflected in our own communities – using the whole range of art forms and experiences that make Westminster's cultural offering so unique.
This celebration would run for a period each year – building over the four years and culminating in 2012 with the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Different elements would form the focus for each year - different forms of expression, places and people. I'd love to hear from any of you on how you would like to contribute to such a festival.
Our own possible ideas include:
● an interactive trail around the city taking you to different showcase events
● connecting public spaces, cultural venues – including our libraries and archives, unusual venues and public art
● bringing to life and exploring our cultures through art – communities' histories and world cultures – Londoners, Middle Eastern, Asian and Chinese, African Caribbean, Bengali and more
● and not just visible but varied – incorporating storytelling, literature and the National Year of Reading 2008.
Westminster’s arts and cultural strategy – to be launched in May sets out our ambitious aims. By the time the Games arrive, we want every young person in Westminster to feel entitled to walk through the doors of any art gallery or museum in London or any theatre in the West End – to be confident about expressing themselves creatively or to believe that they could make a career in the creative industries if they choose.
We want everyone to have the opportunity to express themselves in ways that suit them, all families to have access to Westminster's cultural institutions and all neighborhoods to be brighter, friendlier, more welcoming places buzzing with activities – and with individuals fulfilling their creative potential.
Projects include:
● developing digital guides and a range of educational resources to let people know what's on offer
● encouraging talented people in Westminster to find the support, training and employment opportunities they deserve
Fundamentally, I place great emphasis on the importance of brokers, leaders, collaborators – facilitating creative activity and fostering links between all of you, our external partners – with each other, with the council but more importantly with our residents and visitors. We work best when we work together.
London has the chance to show off on the international stage with four weeks of sporting excellence – but Westminster has the chance to shine over four years – let us grab this opportunity.