A BID to get the cash promised to the collapsed Coventry City of Culture Trust to deliver its legacy programme has been knocked back by government chiefs, the city council has revealed.
But while the authority has committed to continue to seek further investment into the city, Coventry cultural leaders have called for ‘lessons to be learned’ from the year.
The Trust was overseeing a three-year legacy programme following the City of Culture year when it went into administration in February.
In response, the council lodged an outline business case for the continued investment of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) legacy funds.
Heather Davison, part of a Facebook group petitioning for a full enquiry into the Trust, contacted the Observer earlier this week claiming the council’s bid was refused by the DCMS.
A council spokesperson confirmed in September the DCMS wrote back saying, taking into account ‘competing departmental pressures’, it was unable to provide any additional legacy funding.
The spokesperson added the government said a ‘further, strengthened case’ for investment could still be made to DCMS officials.
Coventry Society member Paul Maddocks told us he felt any future bids for legacy cash would prove ‘very difficult’ as the focus would have now turned to ensuring Bradford’s 2025 City of Culture year was successful.
“Focusing everything in a year isn’t the best way forward as it’s too contingent on circumstances, and this was proven by the pandemic having such an impact on events.
“Having a long-term plan which provides what the community wants is essential as a lot of people feel the city of culture events didn’t reflect Coventry’s history and reputation as a city of peace and reconciliation.”
The rejected business case focused on securing ‘sustained legacies’ for Coventry’s young people, communities and cultural and creative sectors.
The council said its bid looked to do this through investing in securing legacy commissions, large-scale cultural events, volunteering legacies and capacity-building programmes.
In June, the authority and the city’s two universities announced Coventry Culture Works, a ten-year plan to enhance the city’s reputation as a cultural and arts hub.
The scheme will look to boost investment into local cultural and creative projects with work already starting on a new Cultural Strategy Action Plan and a new Head of Culture and Creative Economy role is planned at the authority.
