Have your say on the future of culture in Plymouth

How can we culture culture? That’s the key question being asked at a special event open to everyone in Plymouth.

As Plymouth heads towards the Mayflower 2020 celebrations Council Leader Tudor Evans is inviting residents to have their say on the future of culture in the city. An Open Space event is being held at Plymouth Guildhall on Friday 19 July. It is an opportunity to talk about what culture means to us and what we want for the future.

Cllr Evans said: “I’ve chosen to use Open Space because it is an interactive and inclusive way of structuring a meeting that allows you to set the agenda. It is a very dynamic way of talking about complicated and difficult things.

“Open Space can unite groups of enormous diversity. So, whoever you are, if you’ve ever had any interest in culture in Plymouth, I’d like to invite you to join me to see if we can work together to imagine the cultural future of Plymouth.”

The Open Space event will be run by an independent facilitator and recorded so the discussions can be used as the cultural offer in Plymouth is developed.

Cllr Evans added: “We are at a moment in the history of Plymouth. I want to change the perception of Plymouth, in the city and from outside, and I believe we are on a journey to define Plymouth and not confine it. I want to seize opportunities like the Britain’s Ocean City brand, our recent bid to be the next UK City of Culture and the upcoming Mayflower 2020 celebrations and use them to radically change perceptions of our city. I believe we can do this by working together and using our fantastic resources.

“To me, culture is my collection of David Bowie records. To you it might be a magnificent painting, a football match at Home Park or down the park, a wonderful play or a great night at the pictures… What matters is that culture gets people talking and thinking, it gets people excited.”

The event is from 10am to 6pm, it’s free and food and drink are provided but places do need to be booked via http://plymouthopenspace.eventbrite.co.uk