Issue - meetings

Cabinet are asked to endorse the bid to join the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) Creative Cities Network as a City of Media Arts and to raise public awareness of the opportunities for the city.

Resolved:           That Cabinet agree to endorse the bid to join the UNESCO Creative Cities Network as a City of Media Arts and to raise public awareness of the opportunity presented.

Reason:              To demonstrate the ongoing support of the council for York’s bid.

Consideration was given to a report which asked for Cabinet’s endorsement of the bid to join the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisations Creative Cities Network (UNESCO) as a City of Media Arts, in order to raise public awareness of the opportunities for the city.

It was reported that in 2010 Council had agreed to make an application to be a Creative City of the Media Arts however, following the withdrawal of funding for UNESCO in November 2011, the admission of further cities had been put on hold. Since that time the media arts sector had continued to grow and following recent encouragement York had resumed its bid through a partnership of organisations steered by York@Large,

on behalf of the city.

The Cabinet Member confirmed that York would receive notification as to the success of its  bid on 20 November 2014. In the meantime she encouraged all to vote online for the city and expressed her thanks to York@Large for all their work.

Chris Bailey, spoke as an interested resident who had been involved in work on the bid. He highlighted the importance of the Council’s endorsement of the bid which could lead to international recognition of the city. He referred to the economic power of creative arts which attracted businesses from other sectors all of which were important for young people in the city.

Members also expressed their strong support for the bid which would help secure the cities future and add further scope for employment.

Resolved:           That Cabinet agree to endorse the bid to join the UNESCO Creative Cities Network as a City of Media Arts and to raise public awareness of the opportunity presented. ^1.

Reason:              To demonstrate the ongoing support of the council for York’s bid.