“It is time for Leeds to look beyond its borders and be generous with the opportunities at its disposal. We must open our city up and invite the world to join us in Leeds.” – Leeds Cultural Strategy 2017-2030 draft
In short; Leeds must stop underselling itself to unveil its full potential on a global scale.
Ahead of the city’s European Capital of Culture bid for 2023, the first draft of the new Cultural Strategy 2017-2030 highlights the need for the city to amplify its voice in order to change outsider perceptions, and gain recognition for the efforts made to allow for the transformations already underway, including the regeneration of the south bank and Leeds Public Transport Transformation; as well as those planned for the future.
Leeds is one of the cities leading the way in terms of UK inbound investments, with multiple major construction schemes underway at present, as investors continue to look beyond the capital following the London property plunge prediction.
In recent years, even self proclaimed advocates have failed to shout about Leeds in all it’s glory; as a hub for financial, legal and technological business, or even as one of the nation’s best big cities to live in, but all that must change if the city’s bid is to be taken seriously.
This initial Cultural Strategy draft aims to highlight the significant changes made since the previous Culture Strategy, whilst stressing the potential impact of coming together on pressing issues, such as those surrounding housing and poverty could have on the final decision.
Read the full initial Cultural Strategy 2017-2030 draft document here, ahead of the final piece in July.
