A long term local cultural strategy is calling for people from all walks of life to get involved in shaping the Bay as part of a new Torbay Culture Board.

This is your New Year's opportunity to help shape the future of Torbay and its communities!

Torbay Council and Torbay Development Agency have facilitated, with public funding from Arts Council England, the development of a ten year strategy. Torbay’s cultural strategy - Enjoy, talk, do, be - was launched on Monday 8 December.

A new and independent Torbay Culture Board, supported by an executive post, will provide the energy, vision, time and commitment to ensure that the strategy is effectively delivered for the benefit of everyone living, working and spending time in the Bay.

The strategy has vision, ambitions and principles which set out how Torbay could be in ten years time. Culture – as outlined in the strategy – includes everything from visual and performing arts to the built and natural environment, heritage, libraries, media, museums, play, sport, tourism and informal leisure pursuits.

Sue Kay, who is leading the recruitment drive, said: “The recruitment process is open to anyone over 18 who is passionate about some aspect of culture in the Bay. Suitable applicants will be able to think beyond their own personal or organisational agenda, and offer personal, voluntary or professional experience in one or more areas. This could be community development, business, children and young people, education, tourism and more besides.

“We know that the best Board will be diverse in terms of age, experience and background. So, for example, if you haven’t been on a Board before, there will be training and support for you, including an induction programme for everyone and opportunities for ‘buddying up’ between Board members. We will also welcome ‘role-share’ applications if two people wish to undertake one Board member role between them.”

The strategy is split into the following:

Enjoy – enabling more people to take pleasure from cultural activities
Talk – encouraging purposeful exchange to share, reflect on and enhance our cultural offer
Do – inspiring more people to shape and make cultural experiences
Be – celebrating the uniqueness of Torbay’s cultural past, present and future

In addition, a Torbay Culture Forum will be set up, open to anyone who is interested, or who has a stake, in cultural development in the Bay. The Forum will meet regularly to discuss cross sector topics, provide networking opportunities and ensure the strategy remains pertinent.

Board and Forum members will also nominate Torbay Cultural Ambassadors to champion culture with their colleagues, customers and communities across the Bay.

The closing date for applications to join the Torbay Culture Board is noon on Monday 5 January. Full details on Torbay’s Cultural Strategy and an application form are available on http://www.torbaydevelopmentagency.co.uk/cultural-strategy