Culture strategy aims to make Bury the best place in Greater Manchester to be ‘an independent creative’

A culture strategy has been developed for Bury which aims to make the borough ‘the best place in Greater Manchester to be an independent creative’. The move comes in the wake of Bury being the inaugural Greater Manchester town of culture from December 2019.

The recognition was retained for two years, because of the impact of the pandemic, during which time a programme of culture and events was held. Events over the two year period included Bury Art Museum (BAM) exhibitions, on-line live music and performance led by the Met alongside community driven projects like Prestwich Arts Festival, Bury Pride and events hosted by East Lancashire Railway and other independent artists and creative organisations.

A report on culture strategy and Bury’s time as Greater Manchester town of culture by Coun Charlotte Morris, cabinet member for culture and economy for Bury Council, has been published.

She said: “As an outcome of the celebrations and recognised potential economic opportunity, a culture strategy was commissioned from a partner called Curated Place.

“This work also explored the opportunity to put cultural investment centre stage of the delivery of ‘levelling up’ schemes in Bury and Radcliffe.

“Curated Place have proposed a strategy and associated investment requirement with the vision to make Bury the best place in Greater Manchester to be an independent creative.

“A programme of priorities and investment is proposed for the council to take forward.”

The strategy proposes several ‘time critical’ investment requirements, including a minimum 10 per cent of levelling up budgets which should be dedicated to culture to support leadership and training, audience and programme development to ensure the new assets are fit for