NORTHERN CULTURE UNTAPPED INQUIRY LAUNCH: UNLOCKING THE NORTH’S GREAT CULTURAL CAPITAL

The Northern Culture APPG promotes and champions the huge economic contribution made by the North’s cultural sector; providing a united voice on pan-Northern cultural priorities in order to help shape and influence future Government decision making and promoting the need for investment in the North’s strong cultural talent pipeline and heritage.

When we think of the North the first images that come to mind are of its cultural identity and heritage. From Opera North to Oasis, to Wordsworth and the Wainwrights, the North’s cultural assets are world-class but too often overlooked as drivers of growth. The Northern Culture Untapped Inquiry will identify and address the barriers to unlocking the North’s cultural capital and make recommendations to inform future policy, governance and funding.

For the purposes of this Inquiry, “cultural capital” is defined as the rich and diverse assets tangible and intangible that make up the North’s cultural, creative and heritage ecosystem.

Maximising cultural capital is not only an economic force for good, but it is a social driver, opening doors, breaking down barriers, and boosting social mobility. The sector supports over 666,000 jobs nationally and is growing 1.5x faster than the rest of the economy. Imagine if Northern culture was untapped what it would mean for the North and the wider UK economy? It would be a game changer!