The re-emergence of neo-Nazi ideas and displays reminiscent of fascism’s rise show the need to support culture in York and make it available to everyone, a councillor has said.
Cllr Pete Kilbane, City of York Council’s culture spokesperson, said art, music, drama and comedy needed to be fostered from the ground up to combat some trying to impose their ideas.
The Labour executive member added council plans including making York the first city to allow all children to participate in culture aimed to help people thrive and boost the economy.
It comes as the council’s Cultural Strategy which sets out its vision for the arts and creative industries locally was backed on Tuesday, March 4.
The strategy sets out the vision of making York known as a city where everyone can benefit from its heritage while having a cutting-edge approach to creativity.
Speaking at a council decision session on Tuesday, Cllr Kilbane said the genuine culture of the people needed to reassert itself amid the rise of the far-right.
Cllr Kilbane said: “People who seek to impose their culture on others are entering neo-Nazi territory that we saw in the 1920s with flags going up all over Germany, that’s not culture, that’s propaganda.
“This is really important now we’re living in these times again where those neo-Nazis ideas are resurfacing and are being demonstrated in cities and towns across the country.
“Culture is just something that happens when people come together, it’s an expression of the creativity of people living in a certain area and it’s what makes life worth living.
“It brings us all together and it belongs to everyone, it’s impact on wellbeing comes in bringing joy and happiness and in making us ask questions and reflect on how we live.
“What do you think built modern Edinburgh? It’s the thousands and millions of people who visit the Fringe Festival, the city’s economy is built on people putting on plays and telling jokes and that’s something we want to see more of in York.”
The strategy aims to make culture and creativity integral to everything that happens in York and that people from all backgrounds can participate.
A commitment to supporting York’s status as the UK’s only UNESCO City of Media Arts also features among the council’s aims.
The document sets out six priorities including making York the first UK city to achieve cultural entitlement for all children.
There is a particular focus on ensuring children from disadvantaged backgrounds or those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) can participate.
Other priorities include making culture inclusive and relevant to everyone and making it a feature of local investment and city planning.
Universities and colleges will also be expected to provide clear routes to skilled creative jobs to attract talent to and keep it in York.
Culture will also be used to boost health and wellbeing, including through ‘social prescribing’ which refers people to activities including the arts for treatment.
York’s reputation for its art, culture and heritage will also be championed nationally and internationally.
Council chief strategy officer Claire Foale said the plans sought to harness York’s unique culture, heritage and independent and vibrant arts which were rightly a source of pride.
A council report stated York continues to buck trends nationally and internationally, with 9m visitors coming to the city in 2024 bringing in more than £2 billion to the local economy.
The strategy stated the creative sector is one of the country’s fastest-growing sectors which contributed £124 billion to the UK economy in 2022.
