Celebrating unsung heroes of culture

Jan 30 2010 by David Whetstone, The Journal

THE spotlight fell on a host of “unsung” champions yesterday as business leaders and politicians rallied behind the North East’s cultural sector.

In a scheme run by national body Arts and Business, which organises partnerships between commerce and culture, 20 Cultural Champions were nominated by 15 arts and heritage organisations across the region.

They ranged from business figures who sponsored various cultural initiatives to dedicated individuals who volunteered their time.

All were commended by Newcastle East and Wallsend MP Nick Brown, Minister for the North East, who spoke of his pride in Seven Stories, where yesterday’s event took place.

He said: “We are here in the national centre for the children’s book. It’s a great treasure, a national treasure. I really enjoy showing it off and last time I was here I met my friend the Gruffalo.” He joked that in his other role, Chief Whip, he liked to tell dissident Labour MPs that if they didn’t fall into line, the Gruffalo (the scary beast of the famous children’s story) would be out to get them.

On a serious note, he told the gathered Cultural Champions that their work was incredibly important.

He said if he had more time to spend on his regional ministerial role, he would dedicate it to the creative sector “because we have got some great things here”.

But it had been dealt a double blow by the economic downturn.

The North East had been enjoying the fastest growth rates in the country so a sudden reduction in “discretionary spend” had hit cultural organisations particularly hard.

Secondly, the Northern Rock Foundation, which distributed £30m in the year before its parent bank foundered in the credit crunch, had been forced to scale down its giving.