Agenda item

To consider the report of the Head of Profession (Culture)

The Committee received the report of the Head of Profession (Culture) updating the Committee on the success of the 13^th Edition (2024) of Sculpture in the City (SITC) and outlining delivery plans for 2025 within a new delivery framework.

The Committee congratulated Wendy Hyde on her perseverance and dedication in securing another year of the programme and her chairmanship of the programme, and also thanked the executive for their hard work. A Member asked whether the intention was to keep all 13^th Edition Artworks in situ for another year, and the meeting heard that the artworks are expected to remain in place till summer 2026.

A Member asked whether artists and galleries were paid. The meeting heard that a nominal fee is paid.

Noting section 6 of the report as well as the press highlights and social media information set out in Appendix 1, Members asked for more information on the communications methodology to raise the profile of the programme and whether there was evidence that those initiatives translated into footfall. The meeting heard that the communication was carefully targeted (including trail maps distributed to residents, schools and libraries) and was devised with the support of a PR agency to secure slots in national newspapers and radio. The meeting also noted that further marketing initiatives were expecting to be rolled out. 

Members commented that the City of London Corporation (CoLC) is not always sighted on the work done by BIDs in the culture realm.