Milton Keynes Spreads its Cultural Wings

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 19th Jun 2006

Local people are being asked to play their part in making Milton Keynes a cultural 'beacon' of the 21st century.

The next stage has kicked off in the widespread consultation on the draft Milton Keynes Cultural Strategy, involving the Council, regional and local agencies, and other partners.

The strategy seeks to set out a road map of how Milton Keynes will develop in terms of its quality of life, identity and cultural activity over the next five years. The Council and its partners view it as crucial that the document reflects the City's ambition and aspirations.

Councillor Euan Henderson, Liberal Democrat cabinet member responsible for culture, said: "Milton Keynes is at a pivotal time in its growth. As a place projected to be the 10th largest city in England by 2031, we need to be sure we plan for our cultural needs now. So it is important to gain the widest input to thinking about our future needs."

The draft Cultural Strategy 2006-2012 outlines why Milton Keynes is such a key player regionally, nationally and internationally and is available on the web at www.mkweb.co.uk/leisure-and-culture/home.asp or in hard copy by request.

Euan Henderson added: "Milton Keynes is an exciting place with the potential to be at the forefront of sport, leisure and the arts in the next ten years. The goal is to develop a Milton Keynes cultural 'offer' that benefits the whole community - individuals, groups and businesses."

The draft Cultural Strategy has been developed up to this stage though a participative process that has involved a wide range of individuals, groups, agencies and businesses from Milton Keynes and beyond.

There is now an opportunity for the rest of the community to review the content and ensure that their needs and aspirations are well represented. This will be done through a series of workshops and exhibitions, held at a variety of locations, at which members of the Council's culture team will be present.

Alternatively, contributions to the consultation can be made via the web or by writing to The Culture Team, Milton Keynes Council, Saxon Court, 502 Avebury Boulevard, Central Milton Keynes, MK9 3HS