RESIDENTS and professionals are being encouraged to share their views on the importance of art in the development of York over the next quarter of a century.

A free public discussion at Bootham School, which starts at 6pm for 6.30pm on Monday March 21, will explore the role that arts, culture, and creativity can play in the city’s future.

Organisers say that with York's 'Local Plan' currently being written, the debate offers an opportunity to shape its contents and influence development over the next 25 years.

A short panel debate featuring leading thinkers in the arts, architectural and planning realm will start the conversation before the debate is handed over to the public.

The event has been organised by York Architectural Association, York@Large and York UNESCO City of Media Arts in association with Beam (Arts in Place) and is supported by Bootham School.

Charlotte Harrison, chair of the architectural association, said: “We have an opportunity in York to use the arts and culture to express our unique social identity. We have seen time and time again that where this is embedded within urban development, it transforms places into somewhere where people want to be and are proud of.

“There is a real danger in York that unless this is recognised and built into the way future development takes place, the result could be a soulless collection of buildings, with meaningless left-over space, that could be anywhere.”

Tickets for the evening event are free of charge and available at: www.artinyork.eventbrite.co.uk