Cultural services among best in country
2 OCTOBER 2007
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IT
is recognised that good provision for arts and culture lead to vibrant communities, which is why the Harrogate District's Cultural Partnership is celebrating news that provision in this area is at an all time high.
The Harrogate district has scored highly in a recent satisfaction survey which has placed Harrogate Borough Council in the top quarter of 238 district councils.
What's more it is just one of 14 councils out of those to achieve top quartile performance on all four indicators.
Questions in a statutory user survey asked about satisfaction with facilities such as sport and leisure; museums and galleries; theatres and concert halls; parks and open spaces which, with a 90 per cent satisfaction rate, was joint highest nationally alongside Cambridge and Ipswich
These latest results have been warmly welcomed by organisations represented in the Cultural Partnership.
Chair, Councillor Pat Jones who is also the council's Cabinet Member for Cultural Services, says that they show a lot of hard work is paying off.
She said: "Many of the plaudits we get point to the quality of life in this district.
We have a lot of partners working in the community without whom we could not retain this sort of satisfaction rate and I would like to thank them and invite them to join in our success."
Harrogate District Cultural Partnership
was set up in 2003 to promote and improve the cultural life of the whole Harrogate district.
The scale of its achievements have also been recognised by Malcolm Warrington from Arts Council (England) who attended a meeting of the Partnership earlier this month.
He said:
"Arts and culture are not statutory functions but it is quite clear that Harrogate Council continues to invest successfully and is committed to providing high quality services throughout its district.
I wish other councils were so committed.
The setting up of an independent Cultural Partnership is also paying dividends and can be used as an exemplar for others." ENDS
NOTE TO EDITORS:
Arts Council England works to get more art to more people in more places.
It develops and promotes the arts across England, acting as an independent body at arm's length from government.
Between 2006 and 2008, they will invest £1.1 billion of public money from government and the National Lottery in supporting the arts.
This is the bedrock of support for the arts in England.
It believes that the arts have the power to change lives and communities, and to create opportunities for people throughout the country.
FURTHER INFORMATION:
Councillor Pat Jones is available for comment on 01423 872466.
Further technical information is available from Mr Les Williamson, Director of Community Services on 01423 556855 and Malcolm Warrington is available on 01924 486207.