A new vision for the cultural future of the north-east has been drawn up by a team of Aberdeen-based academics.
The working group set up by the principal of the Robert Gordon University (RGU), Ferdinand von Prondzynski, has produced a report that will be launched at a reception at Aberdeen business school tonight.
Titled ‘Creating a new north: a vision for the region’s cultural future’ it makes a number of suggestions as to how the creative sectors can help to make the region more attractive to incoming workers and investors.
It proposes that there should be a co-ordinated cultural strategy across north east councils and a greater presence in Aberdeen for national arts and culture bodies. More should be done to promote and support the independent cultural sector, while steps should also be taken to secure more national funding for the arts in the north-east, the report adds.
There is also a call for the local media to be more prominent in promoting and celebrating cultural activities.
Professor von Prondzynski said: “From the very earliest days of higher education history, universities have been centres of cultural engagement and development.
“It is my view, as principal of Robert Gordon University, that this institution has a special relationship with its city and its region, and that it must give expression to this through its contribution to local culture and through its leadership in debates about how that culture and creativity can be further enriched.
“It is my hope that the assessment of our cultural future set out in this report, and the recommendations made therein, will provide a valuable contribution to the future of the north-east of Scotland more generally.”
The working group was convened by the head of Gray’s School of Art, Professor Paul Harris.
The report will be launched at RGU’s Aberdeen Business School, Garthdee, at 6pm.
To register for the event, please contact Barbara Jones at b.a.jones@rgu.ac.uk or phone (01224) 262034.