Agenda item

                                                                                                                                                (Enclosure)

Members of the Economic and Development team presented to the meeting with regards to the cultural events happening in the district over the next 18 months. The group was informed that there were three core themes incorporated into the strategy: providing, promoting and participation. The group were told the aim was to build on events nationally, regionally and locally as part of the growth strategy.

The Stamford Georgian Festival was discussed. The festival aimed to highlight Stamford’s Georgian heritage and architecture and build on the accolade Stamford was recorded in The Sunday Times newspaper as the best place to live in Britain. The group was informed of the events that would happen as part of the festival including pop-up shops, market stalls, speakers, food, face painting, Georgian-themed fairground rides, tours, shows and sport. Economic Development was working in partnership with Stamford Town Council.

The group queried if there would be a finale as part of the festival similar to the Gravity Fields festival and were informed that there would be a finale event on Stamford Meadows as the climax to the Stamford Bull event. There would also be pyrotechnic and flags as a finale on the Sunday which would finish earlier than the Gravity Fields finale to allow visitors to make the most of their visit to Stamford. The festival was to take place on 27-29^th September 2013.

The meeting was informed that the traffic model used for a market closure would be employed to deal with the expected traffic increase. Additional car parking would be available to visitors such as Burghley and college car parks with promotion to encourage local people to walk or car share to make room for visitors.

The Communications team was looking at marketing the event. Marketing strategies included using Primary Times magazines, radio, town council and Lincolnshire County Council to engage and encourage people across Lincolnshire, Rutland and Peterborough to support the event. It would also be promoted at a national level. The Sunday Times was cited as a media outlet that the Communications team would talk with to promote the festival. The group congratulated the Economic Development team on their work.

The Economic Development officers would measure the success of event by customer surveys and consulting with traders.

The Head of Community Assets was speaking to local bus companies and looking at buses that would go further afield for visitors to come to the town.

The Mallard Story of Speed event, taking place in Grantham from 7-9^th September 2013, was discussed. The group was informed that developers and agents from London would be encouraged to come to Grantham to see investment opportunities in the town as part of the festival. As well as the Mallard event, presentations and walking tours would be taking place. Members asked how the press would be informed of the event and were told that radio coverage would be employed; advertisement in the National Rail magazine and possibly papers such as the Metro or Standard would generate interest.

Members expressed concern about whether this event would benefit the town financially and allow visitors to see more of Grantham beyond the railway station. The group was reassured that there would be exhibits by the station to point people into the town and pop-up shops in the centre to encourage tourists to eat in the town to generate a broader positive impact. There would be exhibitions in the centre to encourage visitors to branch out past the railway station. It was raised that promoting this event in schools may be a useful way to involve residents. The Economic Development officers informed the group that an educational pack was being put together for schools to help promote the event.

Enterprise Week was referred to which was to take place in March 2014 which would allow the promotion of employment opportunities, companies and business ideas. Members suggested that allowing access for the members of the public to the event and being made aware of when it was taking place would be useful.

Gravity Fields would take place on the 24^th-28^th September 2014. The group was informed the theme of this event that is being discussed is “Giants of Science”. The Economic Development officers informed the group that a bid had been submitted to the Heritage Lottery Fund in support of Gravity Fields as a Lincolnshire heritage project.