Have your say on culture in Shropshire

Residents are invited to have their say on culture as part of a major consultation across Shropshire.

Shropshire Council and Telford and Wrekin Council want to know what residents think about the arts, sports, countryside, libraries, museums, heritage and other cultural activities across the region. The aim is to find out what sort of activities people enjoy doing in their spare time and what they’d like to see more of so that the partnership can establish a vision for culture.

Anyone who joins in the consultation will automatically be entered into a prize draw which includes:

• A family ticket to see this year’s pantomime at Oakengates Theatre @ The Place
• An Ironbridge Gorge Family Passport
• Ice Skate passes to Telford Ice Rink
• Family vouchers to ski at Telford Ski & Snowboard Centre
• A season’s pass to Acton Scott
• £50 voucher for the Theatre Severn
• Hamper from Acton Scott
• Family pass to Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre, Craven Arms
• 2 VIP tickets to a Shrewsbury FC Match
• Family passes to Telford AFC matches
• 5 Day passes to the Welti Tennis Centre, Shrewsbury

Shropshire Council and Telford & Wrekin Council are part of the sub - regional Cultural Consortium that has been set up to raise the cultural profile of the county. The aim is to promote the regions cultural industries and tourism both regionally and nationally and to create opportunities for economic growth of this sector.

Psyche Hudson, Arts and Culture Manager at Telford & Wrekin Council said:

“Culture means different things to different people. For some it is cultural activities such as arts, sports, museums, libraries and the countryside. For others it is their sense of identity or their connection with where they are from. Others might describe it simply as ‘our way of life’. Culture is something we all ‘just do’ and we want you to have access to more opportunities to do so we need you tell us what those are.”

George Candler, Asst Director of Leisure and Culture at Shropshire Council, said:

“The aim of this consultation is to gather as many views as possible so that we can look at culture its widest sense. By finding out what people enjoy doing in their spare time and what activities they’d like to see more of, we hope to draw up a plan that will improve everyone’s quality of life.”

Steve Miller, Chair of the Cultural Consortium, said;

“Culture is something which touches everyone’s lives. It is also one of the great driving forces behind Shropshire’s thriving tourism sector. This is a wonderful opportunity for the people of Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin to give their opinions on the future shape of our cultural services including arts, heritage and sport.”

To join in the consultation, residents are asked to fill out 14 questions in a simple questionnaire by visiting the link on this page, or to visit their local library and log on for free at the council’s websites for links to the survey. Residents have until 21 June to join in the online survey.

A range of focus groups will also be taking place as part of the consultation to ensure as many people join in. All these views will help establish a cultural strategy for Shropshire for 2009 – 2012 which will include; the arts, sports, libraries, museums, heritage, archaeology, archives, architecture, crafts, children’s play, reading, parks, tourism and countryside.

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