The Humble Petition of the organising group of the Blaydon Races 150th Anniversary Campaign, namely Mr Steven Campion, Mr David Minikin, Mr Aidan Oswell, Mrs Lisa Christer Ovenden, Mr Andrew Ridley and Mr Anthony Pearson,
Sheweth,
that the Petitioners are campaigning to encourage all those who cherish the history, culture and traditions of their beloved Tyneside to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Mr George Ridley’s famous Blaydon Races anthem in June 2012.
Wherefore your Petitioners pray that your Honourable House will urge the Government to actively encourage the local authorities of Gateshead and Newcastle upon Tyne to work together to co-ordinate a properly-scaled programme of appropriate celebrations.
And your Petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray, &c.—[Presented by Chi Onwurah, Official Report, 9 November 2011; Vol. 535, c. 410.]
[P000979]
Observations from the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport:
The Government are wholly committed to arts and culture and Ministers are determined to do everything they can to support cultural activity, across all the regions of England. Central Government funding for the arts comes primarily through Arts Council England (ACE), which makes funding decisions at arm’s length from Government. Ultimately it is for organisations like ACE, or for local authorities such as Newcastle or Gateshead Council to make funding decisions based on the needs and priorities of the local area as they know the needs of their area better than central Government.