A Government minister has called on businesses in York to contribute to the future of the city’s cultural attractions.

Ed Vaizey, the Minister for Culture, Communications and Creative Industries, spoke to businesses yesterday on the final day of the annual Local Government Association Culture, Tourism and Sport Conference, which was held in York.

He then toured York Explore Library, the National Railway Museum, the Yorkshire Museum, the National Centre for Early Music and the Hockney exhibition at York Art Gallery. At an event hosted by the Company of Merchant Adventurers about encouraging philanthropy to support cultural attractions, Mr Vaizey praised York’s Explore Library and the working partnership with Aviva and City of York Council.

“As a libraries minister who’s having to cope with rows about libraries to come to a city where libraries are being kept open in a very innovative way, is wonderful.”

He said: “The Government is very keen to encourage philanthropy, not because we want to withdraw our support, but because we think it is an untapped reserve.”

He said the Government was looking at a range of options including tax breaks and the £80 million match funding announced by John Penrose, the Minister for Tourism, on Thursday.

“The £80 million match fund is a very important thing for this audience,” he said. “Cultural attractions such as the Tate and the Grand Opera House have a head start when it comes to tapping wealthy individuals, but outside of London that’s more difficult.”

Businesses lobbied Mr Vaizey for support with the city’s bid to be listed to be put forward to UNESCO for the title of World Heritage Site and city and cultural leaders gave him a briefing on the city’s plans for York TV, a bid to be one of the cities to pilot a local television channel.