Oxfordshire
2007 report shows a county switched on to culture
Monday 12 May 2008
Oxfordshire celebrated its 1,000th birthday with enthusiasm,
according to a newly published evaluation report. Tens of
thousands of people took part in events in Oxfordshire 2007,
a special year of culture to mark the county’s millennium.
According to the independent report, as well as launching
new festivals and events of world-class status, Oxfordshire
2007 raised the profile of cultural activity, created flourishing
new networks and partnerships and brought in substantial new
funding to the cultural sector.
One of the members of the public quoted in the evaluation
observed:
“2007 did seem to switch people on to culture …
for me, just an ordinary person living in the county, it has
been such a useful resource in terms of finding things to
do with my family.”
Among the new events that pulled in the crowds were Luminox,
a dramatic fire spectacle in Oxford’s Broad Street (20,000
people) and The Children’s Food Festival at Abingdon
Airfield (15,000 people). Many other individual events also
drew in several thousand people, and The Faces of Oxfordshire
programme, which ran throughout 2007, attracted over 100,000
participants, 60,000 of them via the project website.
In other key findings, the evaluation report shows that over
350 cultural events were publicised or promoted in Oxfordshire
2007 and more than 160 organisations were featured in the
season guides. One third of Oxfordshire schools got involved
and over 60 businesses lent their support. More than £750,000
of funding was raised from public and private sources for
Oxfordshire 2007 events.
The evaluation report was produced by ALM Associates and commissioned
by Oxford Inspires, which coordinated and promoted Oxfordshire
2007. Sarah Maxfield, Chief Executive of Oxford Inspires,
said: “Oxfordshire 2007 aimed to get more people involved
in cultural activities, reinforce the importance of culture,
promote the county—and give people something to enjoy.
The evaluation shows that the programme successfully achieved
its objectives and that, thanks to the kind of events it generated,
a new cultural vibrancy is beginning to emerge in Oxfordshire.
“We are now looking forward to developing Oxfordshire's
participation in the national Cultural Olympiad, launching
in September. We will also be undertaking research to establish
the economic value of cultural events and creative businesses
to Oxfordshire's economy. And in the autumn we will be promoting
a countywide ‘Planet Earth’ season with cultural
events on an environmental theme."
The
full evaluation report on Oxfordshire 2007 can be downloaded
here
ENDS
Contact: Liz Gresham T: 01865 815525 E: liz.gresham@oxfordinspires.org
Notes to Editors:
1. Oxfordshire 2007 was coordinated and promoted by Oxford
Inspires. The programme was funded with an initial investment
of £200,000 from Oxford City Council and Oxfordshire
County Council. This sum was increased by a further £577,000
of financial and in-kind support. 90% of the money raised
went to Oxfordshire 2007 events.
2. Oxford Inspires is is the cultural development agency for
Oxfordshire. It creates new opportunities for arts and heritage
organisations, nurtures new festivals and spectacular events
and works to engage as many people as possible in exciting
and enjoyable cultural experiences, raising Oxfordshire's
profile as a cultural destination within the UK and internationally.
It collaborates with cultural organisations across the county
to support their ambitions and to help them to reach a wider
audience.
3. Oxford Inspires’ founding partners are Oxfordshire
County Council, Oxford City Council, the University of Oxford,
Oxford Brookes University and Arts Council England, South
East.
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