Agenda item

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

 

“1.0      Purpose of Report/Summary of Main Issues

 

1.1       This report presents a number of proposals for increased animation opportunities within the city and for extended destination profile.

 

            Members are asked to provide approval to progress with an extended city centre animation programme to provide support for key stakeholder to deliver partnership initiatives

 

2.0       Recommendations

 

2.1       Members are asked to note the contents of the report, and agree the allocation of the following direct awards in relation to;

 

·        Belfast One - Busking activity – up to the value of £20,000

·        Belfast One - Halloween activity – up to the value of £40,000

 

3.0       Background

 

3.1       The 10 year cultural strategy – A City Imagining outlines a vision of Belfast as a city:

 

·        where everyone fulfils their potential

·        where everyone benefits form a thriving and prosperous economy

·        where everyone experiences good health and well being

·        that is welcoming, safe, fair and inclusive for all

·        that is vibrant, attractive, connected and environmentally sustainable

 

            Building on the community planning process, It acknowledges that change requires ambition, long-term commitment and a sustainable and adaptable approach building on the creativity and resilience in the very fabric of our city. A city imagining can be the catalyst for the urgency and agency required to encourage innovation, new connected thinking and greater collaboration.

 

            In response to ongoing significant regeneration efforts, aiming to drive increased footfall and activity within the city centre. It is essential to address the challenges that the city centre is facing while aligning with initiatives such as the UNESCO City of Music designation, Belfast 2024, Make Yourself at Home tourism strategy and the core principles of co-design and partnership working.

 

            As such the cultural unit have been working with city stakeholders to consider upcoming opportunities to continue to build and grow the positioning of Belfast as a welcoming and culturally vibrant destination.

 

4.0       Main Report

 

4.1       Whilst there have been a range of very positive developments and investments in the city centre, the economic environment is challenging and the impact of the dereliction associated with the Tribeca site continues to be felt.

 

            Initiatives have been put forward to work in partnership with ‘Belfast One’ to respond to the ongoing need for a continued programme of city centre activity to drive footfall and give additional reasons to visit the city centre and attract both residents and tourists.

 

            Officers have worked with stakeholders at Belfast One to identify the following proposals;

 

4.2       BuskFest -  up to £20,000

 

            Objective: Increase footfall and create a vibrant atmosphere through Music further building on the work aligned to realising Belfast’s UNESCO city of music status.

 

            BuskFest will bring musicians into designated areas of the city to perform live music, creating an engaging and lively environment for visitors. This initiative will support local artists and provide entertainment that encourages people to spend more time in the city centre. Belfast One would aim to run a competition and have 5-6 locations across the city for buskers to perform in over 4 weekends in through to November and in the run into ‘Sound of Belfast’ with the winner getting a recording prize and time on one of the local radio stations.

 

            This would build on previous success realised on activity delivered in 2018 and 2019 on the Great Belfast Busk Off.

 

4.3       Halloween 2024 – up to £40,000 (if both components progressed)

 

            Objective: Boost seasonal footfall and create a festive atmosphere.

 

            Belfast One has already committed to hosting 5 monsters in buildings across the city BCC are seeking to provide increased funding to enhance this to 7 creating a monster trail and placing monster eyes in trees on Donegal Place.

 

            These are attractive and award-winning outdoor attractions which have been on display in other cities including Manchester, London, Glasgow and Dublin with great success. Through an exciting primary-school competition to name each of the monsters, we can drive footfall from children and their families into the City Centre to visit the monsters to enter the ‘Name the Monster’ competition.

 

4.4       The remaining funding would deliver in partnership with Belfast One a pumpkin patch in the grounds of City Hall over 2-3 day replicating the popular event to draw families and Halloween enthusiasts into the city. The event would be a free ticketed event and would encourage participants to take their pumpkins to designated design stations across the city to dress their pumpkins. This event creates stunning visual images in front of the City’s main municipal building and demonstrate visually that the City is open for families and children.

 

5.0       Financial and Resource Implications

 

            The cost of delivering the programme is up to £60,000.

 

            This will be funded from existing budgets and, if all options are fully implemented, also from specified reserves.

 

6.0       Equality or Good Relations Implications/

            Rural Needs Assessment

 

            There are no Equality, Good Relations nor Rural Needs Implications associated with this paper.”

 

            During discussion, in response to Members’ questions, the Senior Manager, Culture and Tourism, advised that access, inclusion, and considerate ticketing would form part of the agreement with Belfast One and she would confirm where pumpkins were being sourced for the event. She highlighted that attendee feedback would be compiled in relation to future Halloween events as part of the core programme feedback.

 

            In response to a Member’s question in relation to the process for the delivery of the aforementioned events, she confirmed that a formal process for Halloween events would be considered for future programming.

 

            After discussion, the Committee:

 

·        Noted the contents of the report, and agreed the allocation of the following direct awards in relation to:-

§  Belfast One - Busking activity – up to the value of £20,000; and

§  Belfast One - Halloween activity – up to the value of £40,000

 

·        Noted that access, inclusion, and considerate ticketing best practice would form part of the agreement with Belfast One;

 

·        Noted that attendee feedback would be compiled in relation to future Halloween events as part of the core programme feedback; and

 

·        Noted that a formal process for Halloween events would be considered for future programming.