The Isle of Wight Council will have to fork out £60,000 if it joins Southampton's 2025 City of Culture bid.
Councillors will meet next week to weigh up whether a successful bid would be value for money.
The ambitious bid, agreed by Southampton City Council in 2019, would see long term economic benefits not only to the city but to the wider region, including the Island, according to the Cabinet report.
Other benefits could include:
- increased visitor numbers to the Island;
- increased profile in local and national media of the Island as a cultural destination;
- increased Arts Council funding committed to Island cultural organisations;
- increased participation in cultural activities by residents in the Island's most deprived communities.
The council is being asked to make an initial financial contribution of £10,000 to support the bid and associated activity.
Should the bid be successful, a further £50,000 paid over five years would be committed from the council’s regeneration budget.
Councillor Julie Jones-Evans, who leads on regeneration and business development, said:
“The Island strongly values its cultural heritage and the role of cultural and creative industries as a key area of future economic opportunity, especially as the Island recovers from the pandemic.
"The Island is already home to landmark cultural events, such as Cowes Week and the Isle of Wight Festival and the cultural history of the Island is a major draw for Island visitors.
“The designation of the Island as a UNESCO Biosphere in 2019 was also recognition of the importance of the Island’s cultural life as a contributor to quality of life.
"All these factors contribute to the Island as a significant partner to the Southampton 2025 bid helping improves its competitiveness when set against other cities and regions.”
The Island's cultural offer is a key part of the council's regeneration strategy.
It's thought City of Culture status would provide opportunities for young people, raise the profile of the region nationally and internationally, as well as helping to address social needs, using culture as a catalyst to bring communities together and drive change.
The full Cabinet report can be read here - https://iow.moderngov.
Four Men Arrested Following Rogue Trader Activities In East Cowes
Rugby Players Set To Scale Great Heights For Teddy
Drug Driving, Domestic Abuse And Stalking Among Arrests Made As Police Target Isle Of Wight Criminals
Work Begins On ‘Monumental’ Mural Project At Historic Columbine Building
More Acts Added To Isle Of Wight Festival Line-Up
St Mary’s Vaccination Hub Gets Ready For Spring Covid-19 Vaccinations
Twenty Isle Of Wight Pubs Under Threat As Stonegate Issues Profit Warning
Fundraiser Launched As Kezi's Kindness Founder Diagnosed With Incurable Cancer
Bon Voyage — White-Tailed Eagle Soars To France
Goddards Brewery Scoops Four Top Industry Awards At International Competition
Briddlesford Road Crash Results In Two Injured
Isle Of Wight MP Extolls Virtues Of Joint Emergency Service Officers For Isle Of Wight
Island Labour Announces Parliamentary Candidates As Quigley Vows To 'Take Fight' To Bob Seely
Can You Help Police To Identify Man Linked To Waitrose Theft?
Ryde Town Council In Crackdown On Dog Fouling
Former Patient Opens New Intensive Care Unit
Isle Of Wight Primary School Place Allocations Announced For September
The Rules Islanders Need To Know For Police And Crime Commissioner Election Postal Voting
Family Pays Tribute To Paul Hart Following Fatal Newport Collision
Teenager Sentenced For Planning Isle Of Wight Festival Terrorist Attack
