HULL – Hull and East Yorkshire’s mayoral candidates have pledged to unlock the full potential of its cultural sector and help the region build a £1bn visitor economy.
At a hustings held at Beverley’s East Riding Theatre, candidates to be Hull and East Yorkshire’s first Mayor backed a manifesto launched by multi-sector partnership HEY Creative which sets out an ambitious agenda to make arts, culture and heritage a driving force of devolution.
The event was co-hosted by HEY Creative, which supports cultural growth across the region, and the Advisory Board of Visit Hull and East Yorkshire (VHEY), which has a vision to grow the area’s visitor economy to £1bn by 2029. Crucial to achieving that growth is capitalising on Hull and East Yorkshire’s rich cultural heritage and assets, from arts and theatre to sport and leisure.
At the event, candidates to be the Mayor committed to put arts, culture and tourism at the heart of their plans for the region.
Cllr Anne Handley, Leader of East Riding of Yorkshire Council and the Conservative Party candidate, said: “Tourism is huge in this region. Our coastal assets are fantastic and, working more closely with communities along the North Yorkshire coast, we can create something really special.
“Then you look at Hull, with its rich maritime heritage, and the beauty of the Yorkshire Wolds. The successful Mayor needs to champion and invest in our cultural and tourism sectors and I can assure you I would do exactly that.”
Cllr Mike Ross, Hull City Council Leader and candidate for the Liberal Democrats, added: “Devolution gives us the opportunity to move the region forwards in a way that has not happened before.
“The visitor economy needs to be an important part of that, and we must make sure the unique assets we have in this region are recognised. It is about place, people and ensuring the distinctiveness of this region is not lost.”
The Hull & East Yorkshire Arts, Culture and Heritage Devolution Manifesto, launched by HEY Creative, urges the incoming Mayor to commit support across five key areas – transport, adult education and skills, housing and regeneration, environmental sustainability, and sector-specific issues.
With just over two weeks until the public votes for the region’s first Mayor, the hustings provided a platform for candidates to commit to the manifesto and to helping the cultural sector and visitor economy thrive.
Margaret Pinder, candidate for the Labour Party, said: “I have seen first-hand how transformative arts and culture can be for a region. It can change the lives of all of us.
“We saw during the 2017 City of Culture year how the arts can bring people together. We have world-class museums, stunning coastline and unique heritage. I want to work with businesses and communities to integrate the arts and visitor economy in a way we haven’t previously done.”
Rowan Halstead, Yorkshire Party candidate, said: “One thing that is very clear to me is that people may come to the region for a job, but they will stay for the culture.
“We need to make sure the arts sector has the platform to grow, and people can enjoy everything our region has to offer. It’s about getting people from rural areas into the city to explore, and vice versa.”
HEY Creative and the Advisory Board of VHEY are urging all the candidates to demonstrate support for their sectors. For HEY Creative, this means committing to the manifesto and making arts and culture integral to their plans if elected as Mayor.
VHEY’s own masterplan includes building a £1bn visitor economy in Hull and East Yorkshire, developing a destination of distinctiveness through animation, pride of place and sustainability.
The region’s visitor economy supports 1,700 businesses and more than 21,000 jobs. VHEY provides tangible support for businesses operating in the tourism sector, helping them overcome current economic challenges and stimulate growth.
Reform UK candidate, Luke Campbell MBE, said: “Culture is a massive part of this city, and it is why I am standing here today. The love of the people is why I am standing for Mayor.
“I’ve been a massive part of culture in this city for over a decade, and have shone a light on the talent coming through in Hull. I’m a massive believer we should stand together and support each other.”
Kerry Harrison, the Green Party candidate, said: “Culture and arts makes us human. The culture that we create is down to the people that we have in our region. Arts is universal, and is something I passionately believe everyone should have access to.
“It’s so important that we put arts, culture and heritage at the forefront of decisions about our region.”
Cultural organisations, events and activities contribute many tens of millions of pounds annually to the Hull and East Yorkshire economy, while giving a significant boost to health and wellbeing and bringing communities together in more than 250 venues across the region.
Through the power of devolution, this impact could be amplified, to further improve health and wellbeing, drive regeneration and tourism, and contribute to a thriving economy.
Dominic Gibbons, Chair of HEY Creative and Managing Director of property and regeneration company Wykeland Group, a leading supporter of culture and the arts in the region, said: “The strong turnout we saw at the hustings demonstrates the tremendous support for culture and the visitor economy in our region, and the vital role they play in local life.
“Culture and tourism are both huge economic opportunities for the region, which was recognised by the mayoral candidates. I was pleased to hear the candidates give their support to the manifesto and, more generally, to culture, arts, heritage and the visitor economy.”
VHEY Chair Chris Blacksell said: “Hull and East Yorkshire has such a rich and diverse cultural and tourism offering but, without doubt, its strongest asset is its people, who turn out and travel to the region in huge numbers to support the programme of events and activities taking place throughout the year.
“The visitor economy is a £1bn opportunity for our region. Through cross-sector collaboration and a clear strategic direction, spearheaded by our incoming Mayor, we can make something truly special happen.”
The Hull and East Yorkshire mayoral election will take place on Thursday, May 1.
- To read the Hull & East Yorkshire Arts, Culture & Heritage Devolution Manifesto, go to www.hey-creative.co.uk/manifesto