Report by the Museum Manager (attached)

Councillor P Leaver re-declared his interest in this item and left the room.

Councillor Prowse declared he was a trustee of the Bridge trust.

The Committee considered a report by the Culture Manager (circulated previously) regarding the Flourishing Barnstaple Cultural Development Fund project update.

The Culture Manager highlighted the following:

·         The project known as Flourishing Barnstaple was a project that aimed to re-establish Barnstaple as the cultural centre of Northern Devon, delivering many of the aspirations of the Barnstaple Cultural Plan that was adopted last year (2022).

·         The project received funding in April 2023 and was due to be completed by the end of March 2026.

·         The project included three capital elements:

Ø  Completion of a visual arts/ creative industries hub at 36 Boutport Street,

Ø  Creation of a performing arts/learning hub at Bridge Chambers; and

Ø  Wayfinding and public art.

·         There was revenue funding for three years of activity including cultural sector business development, community engagement, festivals and marketing.

·         The project had been funded through the Government’s Cultural Development Fund, administered by Arts Council England.  External funding of £3,000,000 was matched by £500,000 Market Quarter (funding from the Future High Streets programme) and £150,000 from the Bridge Trust.  The overall project funding totalling £3,650,000 was split as £2,950,000 Capital spend and £700,000 Revenue spend.

·         Work to date had been around setting up governance, and partnership arrangements (there were five partners), with an internal project team as well as a project board made up of collaborators.  The Council had a dedicated Arts Council officer, tasked with monitoring progress and advising.

·         Section 4 of the report detailed the project scope.

·         The development of 36 Boutport Street and the Bridge Chamber would help the cultural economy of Barnstaple.  Having spaces for people to interact and work with young people.

·         Three posts had been successfully  recruited:

Ø  The Cultural Producer, who took up the role at the start of October,

Ø  The Community Engagement Officer, who took up the role at the end of October; and

Ø  The Cultural Engagement Officer, who would take up the role at the start of December.

·         Progress on the Boutport Street building would be reported within the Economic Growth Programme.  Currently the team were awaiting the return of construction tenders.

·         The Bridge Chamber building, which was owned by the Bridge Trust, had reached the point of tendering for an external design team.

·         The public art trail and wayfinding was moving ahead with the appointment of consultants, who would be completing an underpinning strategy for this work – which would set out their recommendations for where signage should be. 

·         Funding received for the development of the activity programme, had a spend deadline of April 2024.

·         Events and Activities had begun at the Pannier Market starting with an exhibition showcasing the work of the internationally renowned photographer Gideon Mendell in partnership with Beaford Arts called “When I am 40”.

·         Beaford Arts had commissioned him to work with local school children visiting locations that had been identified by Coastal Climate Change documents that would be affected by changes in climate.

·         Another big exhibition was due to begin in December and further details of this would be announced shortly.

·         In the New Year work would be undertaken to revive the Barnstaple carnival.

The Chair and Committee members thanked the Culture Manager for all the hard work applying for the funding to put this programme together.

The Culture Manager advised that work was underway with local partners on a Culture Plan for Ilfracombe and it was hoped to be completed before Christmas.

RESOLVED that the progress of the project to date be noted.