Decision

Background / Decision Summary:

Background
The City of York Council, In partnership with the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority (YNYCA) and North Yorkshire Council (NYC), have managed and implemented the Cultural Passport for Young People programme. The project aims to encourage young people of secondary school age, from areas of greatest deprivation across York and North Yorkshire, to freely engage in the region’s culture with the potential to drive inclusive growth, sustainability, social and health benefits. It is also hoped that the project will build aspirations for young people when they consider their future careers and employment choices by increasing their active participation and engagement in the region’s cultural offer leading to a more resilient sector. The timeline for the passport scheme is as follows:
• Phase 1 – 2025/2026 Support pilot schemes and develop phase 2 Grant
rollout.
• Phase 2 – 2026 Grant process, application, assessment & awarding of grants
2027 Grant process, application, assessment & awarding of grants
• Phase 3 – 2028 (Jan-March) Final evaluation report.

Outcomes
• Active participation of young people, from areas of deprivation, in creativity and culture.
• Increased health and wellbeing of young people who participated.
• Interest in cultural and heritage careers.
• Commercial resilience of the sector.
• Collaboration between York and North Yorkshire's culture and heritage sector.
• A resilient and self-funded model for subsequent years.
• A more diverse offer appealing to all.
Funding
• The entire programme is funded by the Mayoral Investment Fund. Total project value is £460k.
2026 Funding and decision making
The funding cycle is split into 2026 and 2027.

The grant criteria and associated information is available via the cultural passport’s website Welcome to Cultural Passport – Cultural Passport

Applicants submitted an application and requested information as specified with applications assessed by a decision-making panel of 3 officers.
• City of York Council -Director Communities
• City of York Council - Head of Strategic Services – Communities
• North Yorkshire Council - Head of Culture & Archives

Comments/Observations:
In total, 37 applications for grant funding were received for the 2026 funding cycle. Through the assessment process 7 applications were chosen to receive the total grant allocation of £120,000.00
Decision:
The Director of Communities approves the use of Mayoral Investment Fund to support the 7 projects.
The awards are as follows:
Organisation Final Amount Approved
Aesthetica £18,525
AHH Studio Collective £19,150
Craven Arts Charitable Trust £12,950
Explore - Youth Voice at Tang Hall £19,490
Flash Company Arts £19,900
NYMR - North Yorkshire Moors Railway £10,000
York Creatives £19,985