Description: The purpose of the report is to assess the extent of current heritage activity in South Tyneside, including the contribution it makes to both the borough’s economy and the leisure and lifelong learning opportunities available to residents, and to begin to identify any development issues or gaps in provision which may need to be addressed.

Issue: This project responds to Ambition 4.8 of South Tyneside’s Local Cultural Strategy (2003) and Strategic Aim 6 of the Regional Cultural Strategy (Culture North East, 2001) that identify a need for research into the value and relevance of the cultural sector. The council carried out preliminary mapping exercises through both the Arts Forum and the Heritage Forum.

Strategy: Approximately 80 organisations were surveyed in July 2003, representing major local providers, council departments, and small voluntary organizations and community groups. Key findings were that over £30million was spent on heritage activity in South Tyneside in 2002, including support and promotion of the area’s built heritage. At least 130 people are directly employed in the heritage industry (not including associated or benefiting fields such as tourism and design companies). Nearly 300 people are engaged in some form of voluntary work and the boroughs heritage-related clubs have a combined membership of 900 people. An estimated 600,000 heritage visits or heritage-related activities were carried out by individuals during 2002, school activity accounted for at least 38,000 of these visits.

Outcome: The report provides a first ‘snapshot’ of activity in the heritage sector in South Tyneside. It outlines the socio-economic benefit of heritage in the area, illustrates how it enriches the lives of the community and what can be enhanced.