Photo: fractalx via VisualHunt.com
Street art outside Nottingham Playhouse. The city has a plan to integrate arts and culture into all aspects of life.
What do we know about the city of Nottingham? We know about the sheriff, I guess, and his adversarial relationship with Robin Hood. But did we know that modern-day Nottingham is really into the arts? A website called Arts Professional wants to enlighten us.
Christy Romer writes, “Nottingham has committed to embedding culture in education and healthcare as part of an ambitious ten-year vision for the city.
“By 2027, the city aims to make ‘culturally-inspired lifelong learning’ available for every person in Nottingham, and establish cultural programmes, research and partnerships that enhance health and wellbeing.
“The vision … aims to achieve national and international acclaim for the quality and diversity of locally-produced artistic work.
“ ‘Culture will unlock potential in our city. The next ten years will continue to see a transition that takes the city from its industrial, manufacturing past, paving the way to reimagine the city for generations to come,’ the [Cultural Statement’s] foreword reads. …
“Plans include supporting schools to develop a world-class cultural learning offer and giving every person opportunities to access creative skills and careers. …
“The City Council also aims to work in partnership with public health professionals and local commissioning groups to understand and enhance the health and wellbeing of the city’s residents. …
“The city announced its bid for the European Capital of Culture 2023 title in August.” More.
Alas, the Brexit vote to leave the European Union means that UK cities will not be eligible. Here’s hoping that Nottingham’s worthy ambitions are not derailed by Brexit and that the UK government will help the city find the resources to carry out its plans. (One has to wonder if the ramifications of leaving the EU was ever fully thought out.)
AmeliainHull, it sounds like Nottingham wants to give Hull a run for its money!
Art: Louis Rhead, “Bold Robin Hood and His Outlaw Band,” New York: Blue Ribbon Books, 1912.
Suzanne's Mom's Blog 
Oh, I do hope they figure out ways to move forward, in spite of Brexit. It’s such a worthy, unusual undertaking!
Brexit was a big mistake, but according to an article from the *Economist* that my husband just showed me, 62 of the 65 areas of Britain where efforts to improve social mobility have been neglected voted in favor of leaving the European Union. The country has some work to do to help the poor.