Derry City Council Legacy Plan

2013 has been a memorable year

in Derry~Londonderry’s history

- a magical year of triumph,

celebration and transformation.

The people of the city have

begun telling the world their

new story of hope, optimism and

achievement. Derry~Londonderry

is looking good and feeling great.

Our year as the first UK City of Culture

thrust us onto the world stage and

drew visitors from far and wide to

experience our history and enjoy our

culture. But as we look to the future,

the biggest transformation – and

the most enduring legacy of 2013 –

will be seen at home, in our people:

proud, talented and ambitious. The

future is ours for the making.

2013 presented us with a once in a

lifetime opportunity and the city rose

to the challenge. Partners including

Derry City Council, Culture Company

2013, Ilex, the Department for

Culture Arts and Leisure, the Strategic

Investment Board, DoE, DRD, DSD,

the Emergency Services, our various

sponsors, broadcast and press

partners, local businesses and the

Community and Voluntary sector are

to be thanked and congratulated for

making the year such a success.

The greatest plaudits however

must go to the people of

Derry~Londonderry who embraced

the year so enthusiastically and

supported cultural, arts, sports and

leisure events in such numbers.

As more than one million visitors

will attest, while the city boasts an

attractive public realm, a compelling

history and a rich culture, it is our

people who set it apart.

i SU

NSE

T O

N P

EA

CE

BR

IDG

E, E

BR

ING

TON

Once in a lifetime...“

3BUILDING ON THE SUCCESS OF 20132 BUILDING ON THE SUCCESS OF 2013

In bidding for the City of Culture accolade, we recognised the power of

2013 to transform, renew and energise Derry~Londonderry. We made a

challenging declaration of intent, promising to:

» leave no man, woman or child

in the city untouched by our

cultural programme

» involve and celebrate our

young people

» tell the world about Derry’s

cultural richness and diversity

» reconnect with the diaspora

using new technologies

» build on partnerships and

develop new ones

» aim for economic and social

success through ongoing

transformation

» commit to excellence in

management and governance

These were ambitious but achievable goals. As a result,

Derry~Londonderry 2013 has set a benchmark by

which future Cities of Culture will be measured.

i R

ET

UR

N O

F C

OLM

CIL

LE

...a great sea-change...

54 BUILDING ON THE SUCCESS OF 2013

The city’s physical transformation leading up to 2013 created a wonderful

stage on which to host outstanding events. Last year, tens of thousands of

our citizens flocked to cinemas and theatres, parks and galleries, schools,

workshops and even onto the streets to take part.

The Lonely Planet Guide listed Derry~Londonderry as the 4th best city in the world to

visit during 2013 and spectacular, set-piece events attracted visitors from more than 80

different countries, including Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka, North Korea, Morocco, Venezuela,

Chile, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Brunei and Cambodia.

» The Guildhall got a £10m make-over

and 220,000 people have been to

see it since it reopened to the public

in June

» Derry~Londonderry became the first

city to host a second BBC Radio 1

Big Weekend and superstar Robbie

Williams was among the 37,500

music fans who rocked Ebrington

in May

» 2013 was a bonanza year for local

hotels, smashing previous monthly

records for the number of rooms sold

» World Host training for more

than 2,000 people cemented our

reputation as a tourist-friendly city

» 30 major conferences – including the

Rotary International Peace Forum –

brought 6,000 delegates, generated

£4.5m in business and established

Derry~Londonderry on the global

conference circuit

» More than 1,000,000 people

visited Derry~Londonderry during

the City of Culture year

» An estimated 430,000 people

followed a traditional route in

August, to the first ever Fleadh

Cheoil na hÉireann held north of

the border

» 180,000 people saw Lumiere

making light work of the

autumn darkness

» Thousands of Orange Order

members took part in the flagship

‘Twelfth’ parade in July, when 60

lodges and 40 bands marched

before Grand Masters from

England, Scotland and Ireland

» The Turner Prize Exhibition got

34,000 arts fans talking - literally

- when it left England for the first

time

» History rhymed with mystery

during June’s Return of Colmcille

pageant, when a fire-breathing

Loch Ness monster held almost

40,000 spellbound by the Foyle

» 40 new business starts were

supported by the Business

Opportunities Fund

» World records fell as 5,000 ‘Annies’

created a song and dance at

Ebrington Square and 800 ‘brides’

did a wedding march for charity on

the Peace Bridge

» More than 4,000 young people

made the springtime children’s

literature festival a real ‘Humdinger!’

» More than 2m people crossed the

iconic Peace Bridge

» And 91% of residents - from

deprived and non-deprived areas -

rated City of Culture year as

7+ out of 10.

2013 in Numbers

h F

LEA

DH

CH

EOIL

N

A h

ÉIR

EA

NN

...hope and history rhyme...


Securing the City of Culture 2013 title was a strategic intervention under the

One Plan, designed to stimulate economic development through culture, the

arts and tourism.

We have already seen the positive impact that increased visitor numbers have had on

our economy. We must build on this success and continue telling our new story to

national and international markets in 2014 and beyond.

The explosion of cultural activity in

2013 showed how creative we could

be. Projects like Music Promise and

the Digital Book of Kells continue

to develop our young people’s

talents and equip them with skills

for the future and will undoubtedly

have impact well beyond 2013.

But we need to temper our huge

ambition with harsh, financial reality

and continue to be creative in

our approach.

There is huge potential for

sustainable growth and legacy, but

continued investment is needed to

consolidate our success.

There is a key role for the Northern

Ireland Executive in supporting

legacy at a time of severe spending

constraint. But building legacy is

also the job of everyone in the city,

not just the public sector partners.

The private and community

sectors have a contribution to

make, as does every man, woman

and child in the city.

i M

USI

C P

RO

MIS

E

...a further shore is reachable from here...


As we work together to build a new future for Derry~Londonderry, we will

continue to harness the creative energy and spirit of celebration which

characterised 2013. Each legacy year will reflect, as much as possible, the

richness and diversity of 2013 while a series of themes will provide a particular

focus for investment.

Celebration City 2014-2017Culture Connecting Communities

Who, if anybody, will recall 2013

without thinking about the wonderful

musical events which thrilled

thousands of locals and visitors

alike? We will focus on musical

performances, skills development and

community engagement.

We are designating Derry~Londonderry

as City of Music 2014 to build on the

huge public recognition already gained

for our unique musical heritage. City

of Music 2014 will help support and

develop local talent, while playing

a key role in our evolving cultural

tourism industry.

In 2015 a Creativity and Learning

theme will encourage celebration

of the city’s scientific and innovative

strengths; Community Choices 2016

will focus on the social and economic

impacts which we and our partners

want to achieve; while Maritime City

2017 will honour the centuries-old

connection between the River Foyle

and communities across the world.

Plans for other opportunities to

celebrate are continuing to evolve

and include the exciting possibility of

Derry bidding to become European

Capital of Culture 2023.

At the outset we promised to tackle

disadvantage and ensure that no

citizen would be untouched by

our cultural programme for 2013.

A number of measures are already

in place to implement this pledge

beyond 2013.

The Department for Social

Development has promised

funding until 2015 to help engage

disadvantaged communities in

cultural, social and economic

opportunities presented by City

of Culture. Projects are being

developed – encompassing arts,

music, education and sports –

which are aimed specifically at

disadvantaged areas. We will seek

to embed this approach into core

programming.

Priority is being given to a new

Community Hub Scheme which

would provide opportunities to

introduce cultural and educational

spaces in communities where they

are needed most.

h U

BU

NT

U F

EST

IVA

L

...believe in miracles and cures...


Creative Economy Cultural Tourism

Creative industries, based around

digital technology, will be central to

Derry~Londonderry’s economic regeneration

and to providing new sustainable

employment. Thanks to the superfast

broadband project of BT – our core City of

Culture sponsor – Derry is the first city in the

UK or Ireland to be 100% broadband enabled.

Better access to broadband will drive

economic growth, increase competitiveness,

improve productivity and create employment.

It provides the infrastructure needed by the

tourism, energy, life sciences and business

services sectors – all of which are necessary

for transforming Derry~Londonderry’s

economic fortunes.

The new £12 million North West Regional

Science Park at Fort George will be ready

early in 2015, with a potential to create

265 jobs.

Subject to approval from the Department for

Employment and Learning, the Arts Council

will provide a number of creative industry

apprenticeships in 2014 for 16- to 24-year-

olds. It is also considering ways of supporting

visual and community arts in the city.

2013 has proved that “if you build it,

they will come”. We confidently expect

Derry~Londonderry to be regarded in the

coming years as a must-see European

destination.

The city now boasts a rich base of cultural

venues thanks to substantial investment

in public realm, heritage buildings and

culture and arts venue infrastructure.

Enhanced facilities at Aras Colmcille,

Museum of Free Derry and the Apprentice

Boys’ Memorial Hall will all be completed

in 2014.

Proposed further development of the

widely-acclaimed Ebrington site will

open it up to even more possibilities.

The planned Creative Hub and Maritime

Museum will increase visitor interest in

the city centre, as will the refurbished

Harbour House, which was completed in

December 2013

Work on the new 2000-seater leisure

facility at St Columb’s Park is expected to

be completed early in 2015, meeting the

need for another big venue in the city.

i C

RA

FT V

ILLA

GE


Telling a New Story

Derry~Londonderry must

continue to tell its compelling

new story to the world long

after 2013 ends. We will seek

out global opportunities

to share our story of

transformation and retain

the international profile we

gained in the past year.

The city must be promoted

as an attractive place to live

in, visit and do business and

as a destination of choice

for would-be investors,

tourists, event-organisers

and students.

Programming and Capital Projects already confirmed

h E

BR

ING

TON

SQ

UA

RE

» Return of the Clipper Round the World

Yacht Race in June 2014 & June 2016

» Pan Celtic Festival in April 2014 &

April 2015

» Other Voices in February 2014 with

an additional music trail in local

communities

» Brides Across the Bridge in May 2014

» Music City in June 2014

» The Walled City Marathon in June 2014

» The Walled City Tattoo in August 2014

» CultureTech in September 2014

» Strategic review of Visual Arts in

the City

» Feasibility Study on a new National

Centre of Story Telling

» Traditional Music Academy at

Glassworks, Great James Street

15BUILDING ON THE SUCCESS OF 201314

Structures

2013 showed what we were capable of. It gave us an unprecedented opportunity to

present ourselves on the international stage as a vibrant European city with a unique

historical, geographical and cultural offering.

What we need to do now is to capture the spirit, focus and energy of our journey to

date and match this to our long-term aspirations. If we are to realise our full potential

and capture the full economic and social returns from City of Culture, we need to plan

strategically, think creatively and work collaboratively.

The Minister for Culture, Arts and

Leisure, Carál Ní Chuilín, is setting up

a “company limited by guarantee”

to deliver City of Culture legacy

programmes and activities across

the wider North West area. Some

existing structures will be able

to support implementation and

help progress issues important for

community engagement.

The City Council is creating a new

Legacy Team which will liaise with

partners to coordinate programmes

and delivery mechanisms. Dozens

of meetings and workshops have

already been held to discuss

legacy and we will continue to

consult and engage with people

and organisations to build on

what has been achieved. Legacy

announcements will continue

throughout 2014.

i M

USIC

CIT

Y D

AW

N

...the birth-cry of new life.Seamus Heaney, The Cure at Troy“


Resources

Public expectations are high after last year and

Derry City Council will be challenged to support

the growth potential of events programmes in the

foreseeable future.

The Department for Culture, Arts and Leisure

has outlined a three-year legacy plan and

approved £2m funding up until March 2014.

Derry City Council has also committed £2m for

legacy projects in 2014-16 and this will provide

a basis for seeking further financial support from

other partners.

We will continue to make the case to the N.I.

Executive for direct support from other relevant

departments. Resources are unlikely to be

available at the same level as in 2013, but Council

will assist organisations to develop business cases

for, and make bids to, a range of potential funders.

This year marks the beginning of a new EU budget

period and provides an opportunity to build on the

success of UK City of Culture and the potential for

leveraging additional European funding.

Finance permitting, we hope to create a

‘Challenge Fund’, which would have core funding

from Council and – ideally – additional support

from other partners. This would be open to

bids from partner agencies with a track record

of delivery.

Your city, your future

Building legacy is the responsibility of everyone

involved in the City of Culture project – not just

the public sector and the city’s community and

business partners, but also every citizen.

Thanks to your overwhelming support and

enthusiasm, 2013 has been an outstanding

success – but it doesn’t end here. Our journey is

only beginning and our Legacy Plan will continue

to evolve.

We would welcome your continued involvement

in writing and telling Derry~Londonderry’s new

story. We are committed to transformation – in

which cultural tourism and digital creativity will be

key drivers.

If you would like to find out more about the

journey ahead, visit our website

www.derrycity.gov.uk/legacy or if you have

an idea or a suggestion you would like to share,

please contact [email protected].

If you would like to know more about the

regeneration plans for Derry~Londonderry, please

visit http://www.ilex-urc.com/Regeneration.aspx

Remember – this is your city, this is your future.


This document is available upon request in a number of formats including large print,

Braille, PDF, audio cassette and minority languages.

For further information on alternative formats please contact:

telephone: (028) 7136 5151 textphone: (028) 7137 6646 or email: [email protected]

Documents

Derry City Council Legacy Plan