Champion wanted to promote our region

Date : 19/04/2002 Publication : THE JOURNAL

The North-East could get its own culture laureate to promote the region's arts a nd entertainment under new plans being drawn up by home rule campaigners. The Campaign for a North-East Assembly wants a competition for a regional laurea te to promote culture and identity and play a key role in the push for a regiona l mini-parliament. The announcement comes just weeks before publication of the Government's long-aw aited devolution White Paper which will spell out the options for regional rule in areas like the North.
Devolution of responsibility for arts, culture and tourism is expected to be inc luded in the blueprint and the CNA believes the new laureate will have a key rol e to play before and after an assembly is established. Spokesman Brian Hall said: "There are two strands to this, to appoint a champion to advocate the region's distinct cultural heritage and renaissance and to cham pion the case for devolution and the region.

"Culture in its widest sense is a major thrust of the campaign for devolution, e specially as we move towards our own assembly, and the post will continue afterw ards." Initial talks about the project have already been held with Northern Arts and th e CNA is also looking for support from other cultural organisations. It is hoped that home-grown actresses Denise Welch and Gina McKee will come forward for the post but the CNA says candidates should cover the range of North-East arts and culture.

Former Minister Joyce Quin, who is backing the move, said: "The North-East could well become the first region to be allowed to vote for a powerful democraticall y-elected assembly and our wide cultural sector will play a key role in the deve lopment of our region." The Gateshead East MP added: "A laureate would be an excellent way of championin g North-East culture and promoting the region and its potential."

Teesside-based poet Andy Croft said: "The laureate could be a poet, musician or an individual from the theatre or other cultural sectors. "The real message is that it is high time this region had such an advocate who c an raise our profile further and stimulate debate on the future of the North-Eas t as we move closer to elected regional government."

Jarrow-born playwright Alan Plater said: "The region already has a formidable ar ray of unofficial laureates - in drama, literature, music and the visual arts - but it would be a good imaginative gesture to make it official. "The North-East has been having good ideas for centuries, it's simply time we ke pt a few more of them within our control."

Publication of the devolution White Paper was put off until after the May 2 loca l government elections after Tony Blair insisted that regional government should mean the end of county councils. His move sparked a fresh row among Ministers but a recent poll suggested a major ity of people in the region would accept a North mini-parliament.

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