Just 5% in Londonderry UK City of Culturerate cultural activities as ‘most important’ for improving lives

PEOPLE in Londonderry UK City of Culture 2013 care far more about social and community well-being than cultural activities, a recent survey has revealed.

Just one in 20 people surveyed by Derry City Council thought the “range of cultural activities” provided by the local authority - which includes the Hallowe’en carnival and City of Derry Jazz festival - were the most important mechanisms used by it to improve citizens’ lives.

The stakeholder survey gave a sample of residents a list of five options and asked to indicate which was the “most important in improving quality of life.”

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Only five per cent chose cultural activities although this was up from 2.6 per cent in 2005.

According to the local authority’s Annual Service Plan 2012/13 and Performance Report: “The most important areas were identified as being – social and community well-being (28 per cent), the state of the environment (18 per cent), economic prosperity of the district (15 per cent), the cost of council services (17 per cent), the quality of council services (16 per cent) and the range of cultural activities (5 per cent).”

Apart from “culture’s” low priority rating the survey also found around three quarters of respondents thought the local authority provided a good quality service and were either satisifed or very satisifed with the council’s performance in managing services.

Three quarters of people surveyed also thought that the local authority was the best placed body to make decisions about the future of the city and that it was already providing a leadership role.

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