AN AMBITIOUS shared vision for the cultural development of the North-East over the next 15 years has been unveiled today (Wednesday, August 29).

Representatives of the region’s local authorities, universities plus private and cultural sectors met at Durham Castle in Durham to hear the Case for Culture manifesto delivered.

Case for Culture steering group chairman Ros Rigby said: “The proposal will play an important part in continuing to grow the cultural sector in the region, building on the successes of recent decades, and sets out the key benefits of additional investment into culture, defining key aspirations and goals for the next 15 years.

“I still think its pretty amazing that given all the cuts our 12 local authorities have had to bear in the last few years, they are still prepared to publicly say they still back culture for the next 15 years.

“We consulted very widely as part of the process, speaking to over a 1,000 people in all sorts of different groupings and a huge number of ideas have come out of that.”

Ms Rigby said five themes had been identified.

These include: spreading the benefits of arts and heritage further; continuing to innovate and broaden access to culture for children and young people; attract and retain the very best cultural and creative talent; continue to support economic growth and job creation and create a vibrant and distinctive region.

North East Culture co-chair John Mowbray said: “The Case for Culture is a positive statement of ambition, building on the strengths of our diverse communities and pointing to the opportunities for further investment in arts and heritage right across the North-East.”

The manifesto proposes to achieve the aspirations through the continuation of the North East Culture Partnership (NECP), with a move towards a formally established organisation to provide a voice for the cultural sector in the region.

Speaking at the event, Arts Council chief executive Darren Henley said: “I’ve discovered a lot about the can-do spirit of the North-East recently.

“I’ve found that the way people have worked together to produce the Case for Culture is characteristic of the region.”

NECP patron Lauren Laverne said: “We should be very proud of what the region has already achieved culturally whilst continuing to put forward ambitious plans for the future."

Also speaking at the event alongside Darren Henley were actor Gina McKee, visual artists Jane and Louise Wilson and writer Michael Chaplin. There were performances by Royal Northern Sinfonia and Tin Arts’ youth dance group Tinker.