Cultural Engagement, Participation and Relevance
YTR Around The World In 80 Days – by Charlotte Graham
Arts and heritage is for everyone. It enriches and benefits people to take part in cultural activities for their wellbeing, helps instigate a sense of pride in their community, and enhances understanding of their own or other cultures. However, the opportunity to access and enjoy culture can vary for many reasons. In York, it is our ambition to make culture relevant and accessible to everybody in York, regardless of age, background or postcode.
Through York’s Creative Future, the York Culture Strategy 2020-2025, we are working to ensure:
- York’s cultural offer is inclusive and relevant
- Equality and anti-racism are at the heart of engagement
- There is more diversity and intergenerational engagement in arts and heritage, and in volunteering
- City of York Council is positioned as one of England’s top five Local Authorities for cultural engagement
- Participation in cultural activities will demonstrate inclusion and relevance
- Arts and heritage organisations will benefit from an enhanced volunteer base
For more information, please read the full strategy here.
Resources and Information
There are a number of fantastic resources around cultural engagement, participation and relevance in York, including (but not limited to) the following:
If you are interested in volunteering in York, please check out York CVS
- AWOC York, Ageing Without Children: their mission is campaigning, information and support for people ageing without children
- Her Story York: celebrating women who have made a difference in the City of York
- Speak Up Diversity: help us do something real about racial inequality and injustice
- York Age UK: a local charity supporting the older people of York, their families and carers
- York Anti-Racist Collective: a group that carries out anti-racist work in the City of York
- York Carers Centre: Free support for unpaid carers
- York Disability Rights Forum: making a difference as disabled people in York
- York Human Rights City: a catalyst for York people, businesses and organisations to champion a vibrant, diverse, fair and safe city
- York LGBT Forum: a charity which aims to improve LGBT rights in York, North Yorkshire, United Kingdom and across the world
- York Multiple Complex Needs Network: a local collaborative of people and organisations across York working together to radically improve lives
- York Racial Equality Network: support for people of all ethnicities living in York and the surrounding areas
- York Travellers Trust: gives support, advice and advocacy to the Gypsy and Traveller communities of York. They also act as a conduit between service providers and residents of York to allow an increased understanding of the communities and facilitate better community cohesion.