“It’s great to be here at Spode today, signing the Keele Deal for Culture, and to see so many familiar faces. I would like you to cast your minds back to September 2015 when I called a meeting, and a few people in this room were present at that time. The meeting, held here at Spode, not far from this spot, was to discuss investigating the potential to bid to be U.K. City of Culture in 2021. And that potential turned into a proposition that turned into a bid.
The bid was shortlisted, and we met the judges right here and introduced them to the rich and varied life of our city, again with even more people in this room today present.
It was a fantastic journey and a brilliant bid, however it all came to a crashing halt on the dockside in Hull in December 2017.
We didn’t win, and I was so sad and exceptionally quiet for about three months afterwards. But a friend text me and said I shouldn’t be, because we had changed the narrative of the city. And they were right, what we did was amazing and changed our city forever.
When we started the journey, people told us we had no chance, and yet we came within a breath of winning. And the bid has a real legacy that continues to build.
I think back to that first meeting, and the exercise we carried out with those present. A clear message came forward about leadership and cultural leadership; initially sought from the City Councik, but ultimately wanted from our city and its stakeholders involved with the bid. And there was a strong feeling from that leadership of the bid that emerged during the time that culture in our city should be real and very much for our residents.
And at this point, I very much emphasise that for residents of the city, the cultural life we enjoy spreads beyond the administrative boundaries into the wider area of Stoke-on-Trent and its neighbours.
We are very fortunate to have a plethora of amazing cultural partners, delivering those experiences for residents, from BArts to the British Ceramic Biennial, via the New Vic and Appetite.
And at this point in my notes, it says to plug Light Night Stoke-on-Trent - so I do hope you will all join me next weekend in Burslem to see the city lit up like never before.
Culture makes our city a better place; the strapline for Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s ‘Stronger Togerther’ vision says we are ‘working together to create a stronger city we can all be proud of’, and a great place to live, work and visit.
As a city, we are making real progress towards that very real vision;
Tourism in 2018 broke the 5m visitor mark, with footfall at the Potteries Museum and Art Gallery increasing by 25%, making it one of the top 10 free visitor attractions in the West Midlands. We were recently awarded £200,000 from the Wolfson Foundation, via DCMS, to support interpretation in our £6m museum extension for the city’s restored Spitfire. If you have been to the city centre recently, you will have seen the Hilton Hotel going up, with more hotels following and a growing tourism offer.
Business is also booming in the city; we are the 10th fastest growing economy outside London and the South East, with a resurgent ceramics industry and - I will say as Chair of the Board - one of the most successful Enterprise Zones in the country at Ceramic Valley, with 2000 jobs secured in the first two years and many brownfield sites brought back into use.
Quality if life remains increasingly important, and the city has one of the fastest growing housing markets in the U.K.; indeed, last night the latest consultation opened on the St Modwen housing development at the former Royal Doulton site in Nile Street, Burslem, to bring 200 homes to the town. Over 30,000 children attend schools rated good or outstanding, and we continue to invest in greenspace sand community activity across the life of our city.
Those three strands are really at the heart of council agendas - placemaking. Why us and why here rare key questions we are answering, and this is work the city are already undertaking with colleagues locally, particularly in Newcastle-under-Lyme, and it is great to see my colleague and friend, Cllr Mark Holland, portfolio holder for Leisure, Culture and Heritage at the Borough Council, here as a signatory today.
So where to now?
It is clear that culture plays a big part in the city’s life; the Keele Deal firmly shows that leadership and ambition, through the role of a cultural anchor - and I would particularly highlight the exemplary work of David Amigoni in taking the Cultural Forum to the next level.
The city’s motto - Vis Unita Fortior - ‘united strength is stronger’ is an exemplar of the partnership, and Keele’s strategic support and involvement are very much welcomed and appreciated by the city, because we are the city that makes art from dirt, and each success contributes to the continued resurgence of the World Capital of Ceramics.
A post-industrial north Midlands city, finding its feet again, recognising it’s strengths and using them to create its future.
We are a city with creativity in its DNA, we beat the odds to be shortlisted for U.K. City of Culture 2021 - we were pipped at the post, but are building on the national and international recognition we achieved through the competition.
We are no longer a hidden city - we’re sure footed and confident in who we are, playing with bigger cities now to secure national investment, and we are regarded as the one to watch.
A city that’s making heritage cool, and creativity sexy, putting edu-clay-tion back on the agenda and making the most of its Grade A strategic location.
We are a changing city, determined to change the UK’s perception of us.
Our most famous son, Josiah Wedgwood talked about beautiful things not happening by chance or without effort - it takes the combined effort of residents, businesses, communities, to restore restore confidence and pride; our economy is growing, our businesses are at the forefront of the 4th Industrial Revolution, and the future is bright for our residents and young people. It’s taken time and effort, but then, all the very best things do.
The Keele Deal for Culture is very much a landmark moment and I am delighted to be a signatory on behalf of the City Council. I very much look forward to continuing this work with partners moving forward. Thank you.”
