ARTS Council England chief executive Darren Henley has spoken on the vital role St Helens’ cultural organisations have for the future of the area.
Mr Henley, a regular visitor to St Helens said that “placing culture and creativity at the heart of the high street” can defend against decline in the borough’s town centres.
Research published by Arts Council England shows particularly strong support for culture in the north, where 68 per cent of people said culture made them feel proud of where they lived, compared to a national average of 60 per cent.
With year-on-year high street footfall declining by 43.4 per cent in 2020, the report also gives several examples of how cultural venues can bring visitors back to village, town and city centres, helping to boost local economies and prevent high street decline.
Arts Council England’s report A High Street Renaissance: How arts and culture bring people and pride back to our high streets uses examples from across the country of where arts and cultural organisations are making a big impact on their high streets. For…
