The Labour administration at City Hall invests heavily in culture. The cultural sector plays an important role in providing employment for local people across Norwich. Around 1,200 jobs are supported by the sector and there are 205 cultural businesses located within Norwich. This includes a number of nationally significant cultural assets, mostly in the centre of Norwich. Arts, culture, and heritage are central to Norwich contributing to the health and well-being of residents, educational and training opportunities, and enhancing a vibrant city and city centre.

Investment in culture has obvious benefits for sectors like hospitality and tourism but it is a promising growth area over the next decade and will create jobs that are immune to the impacts of automation. Norwich is one of the leading local authorities, working with partners to develop the Cultural Compact, bringing together local partners with shared interests to maximise the social and economic benefits of collaborative working.

A Labour City Council will:

1. Provide swimming, sports facilities and leisure services that are accessible to everyone, targeting our resources on promoting healthy lifestyles, to address health inequalities and provide access for all. Aim to continue to access external funding to assist partner organisations to redevelop and create new sports facilities. Continue to offer our Go4Less Discount scheme for households on a low income at our leisure centres.

2. Continue to provide low-cost activities for families, such as swimming lessons and Norwich Parks Tennis. They are more affordable than private providers and provide access to sport and physical activity to Norwich residents during the cost-of-living crisis.

3. Continue to provide low-cost activities for families, such as swimming lessons, and Norwich Parks Tennis, more affordable than private providers to provide access to sport and physical activity to Norwich residents during the cost-of-living crisis.

4. Increase availability of tourist information through the introduction of a new city centre tourist information centre and develop our website, linking this with the Visit Norwich site.

5. Continue to develop and improve our facilities, including St Andrews and Blackfriars Halls and the Riverside sports complex, using the Town Deal funds which we successfully won for our city.

6. Aim to attract at least one major regional and national event to Norwich each year, to raise the city’s profile, increase people’s aspirations, and create an economic legacy.

7. Continue to protect, enhance, and promote our unique historic built environment for the benefit of all, within the resources available. Help to save the Bethel Hospital and other at-risk properties from decay and dereliction and work in partnership with organisations which can assist us in this aim.

8. Continue to provide a range of free city centre events and actively work with suitable partners and sponsors.

9. Celebrate and promote the work of community and volunteer sport organisation and recognise the work of community coaches.

10. Invest £1.1 million in new play area equipment for 28 play areas across the city.

11. Develop the Norwich Market and ensure its continued success, sustainability, and further development in the long term. Build on the achievement of achieving ‘net Zero Waste’ status for the Market.

12. Work with entertainment providers and venues to broaden access to them for people who would otherwise be excluded.

13. Focus the majority of grant funding made to cultural institutions towards work that is aimed at increasing participation and engagement from working class communities.

14. Aim to continue to access external funding to assist partner organisations to redevelop and create new sports facilities.

15. Continue to invest in maintaining our tennis courts to a high standard, using Sinking Fund income from the successful Norwich Parks Tennis model, bringing access to affordable, quality sports facilities to communities.