West Yorkshire Combined Authority – Culture and Devolution

Culture Devolution:

In the West Yorkshire Devolution Deal the Government recognises local plans to use culture, creative and tourism sectors to drive inclusive and sustainable growth, and will work with West Yorkshire to support an ambitious local cultural framework that makes the most of the distinctive natural and cultural assets to enhance pride and wellbeing, and develop the local visitor economy, alongside improving talent and investment in the area. The Leeds City Region cultural framework has been developed with the cultural agencies, the culture ALBs in the region and local authorities, all of whom will work together to ensure its effective implementation. West Yorkshire focuses on the role of culture in wellbeing and economic growth, and Government will work in partnership with the region to support the region’s cultural ambitions. The Government will provide West Yorkshire Combined Authority with a £25 million Heritage Fund to support the British Library in establishing a potential ‘British Library North’.

Autumn 2024 Budget:

The Government is implementing an integrated settlement for West Yorkshire from the start of the 2026-27 financial year. The Government is also increasing the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlements, which are funding projects such as the continued development of West Yorkshire Mass Transit.

Culture Strategy:

The West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Culture, Heritage and Sport Framework is WYCA’s plan to grow and sustain culture, heritage and sport in the region. The framework is arranged into four themes, the focus of their work in Culture, Heritage and Sport. They are:

People – Everyone in West Yorkshire can enjoy culture, heritage and sport
Place – West Yorkshire is a creative, sustainable and vibrant region with culture, heritage and sport at its heart
Skills – You can build a great career in culture, heritage or sport in West Yorkshire
Business – West Yorkshire is the place to grow your creative business

Current Culture Projects:

WYCA has allocated a budget of £11.4 million to Culture, Heritage and Sport activity until 2025. This is part of the funding that was secured as a result of the West Yorkshire devolution deal, agreed between the region’s leaders and the government in March 2020.
Mayor Tracy Brabin’s new “Careers in the Arts” initiative will provide 200 secondary schools and colleges across West Yorkshire with free support to educate young people about careers in the creative industries. The support – funded by Mayor Tracy Brabin with specialist input from Leeds Heritage Theatres and Grand Futures Leeds Art Network – is a collection of free, downloadable lesson plans around the creative industries.
They Mayor’s You Can Make It Here initiative provides support and investment through innovative programmes to make sure WYCA’s creative industries can thrive:
Cultural venue accessibility scheme: supports West Yorkshire cultural venues (including performance venues, live music venues, etc) to become more accessible to disabled artists and audiences. The scheme is delivered by the disabled-led arts organisation Unlimited.
Music sector network: WYCA has partnered with Leeds Conservatoire, Come Play With Me and CREATE Britain to support and drive growth across the region’s creative sector.
Freelancer and micro-business support: region-wide suite of training for creative industries freelancers and micro-businesses, from basics on how to survive and thrive as a creative freelancer, to subsector-specific sessions and masterclasses on law, IP, finance, marketing, and more. We’re also providing grant support.
Create Growth programme (closed to new applications): offers business support for high-growth potential creative industries businesses in the region, while developing equity investor networks, and brokering finance opportunities. The programme is funded by DCMS, and delivered in West Yorkshire in partnership with Creative UK.
Mayor’s screen diversity programme (applications now closed): Designed to help young people aged 18-30 from disadvantaged backgrounds to access opportunities in TV and film production through training and work placements.