It's been six months since Paul Cowell became the council's head of culture.

His new job is about shaping Medway's cultural outlook in the years ahead.

The 45-year-old believes the word “culture” can itself cause confusion.

“Sometimes it’s difficult when you use the word,” he said. “People are like ‘what is culture? What does it mean to me? It doesn’t mean anything to me’. But actually, when you sit down and talk about it in simple language, people really understand what it means.”

Paul, who hails from Bolton, explains anyone who is watching TV, listening to the radio, going to the theatre or cinema is engaging with culture.

He took the job weeks after moving to Rochester with his husband, leaving his position as head of culture and events at Southwark council.

Six months on and one of the things he and his team have begun to do is draw up a 10-year cultural strategy.

He added: “It’s not a blank canvas; there’s already lots of stuff going on.

“My first job was to meet people and listen and find out what the cultural ecology was here, what the landscape was.

“We are seeing what everybody’s doing and looking at what the challenges are but also what the opportunities are and part of my job is to look at how we can bring all that together so that as a big, Medway partnership, we can make things even better than they are now.

“It’s not necessarily about putting on a festival here, it’s about working with the creative community to be better and more connected and make sure we are engaging to all parts of the community.”

Paul’s team has already led a consultation day at the Rochester Corn Exchange, with all different partners being asked to test out and agree that strategy.

The different groups will also be integral in Medway’s bid to become the UK’s City of Culture in 2025.

He added: “The bid is an accelerator for our vision; we might think of ourselves getting there in 10 years but if we get City of Culture status, we might be able to do it in less time.

“The way we will win it is by proving it will make a big difference to Medway as a place.

“It’s the legacy from City of Culture that really makes the difference and it’s one of the things the government will look at when they are making their decisions.

“They will want to see this significant impact on the future of Medway, and that’s really important.”

Paul says the benefits of winning the bid include government investment and becoming more attractive to developers and businesses.

One facet of the cultural strategy is helping to promote people’s events and putting people in touch with each other.

In the coming months, the council is also planning a series of events to recognise the 150th anniversary of Charles Dickens’ death, the 40th anniversary of the Sweeps Festival and 400 years since the death of Gillingham-born sailor Will Adams.

One of the council’s major cultural offerings, the Rochester Castle Concerts, has been handed to London-based company AGMP which announced its plans for the July event last month.

The line up will include The Libertines, Jools Holland, UB40 and The Jacksons.

Paul said: “I think they’ll put on a great show and we’ll see how it turns out for them.

“The council have been doing it for a long time and we knew the space inside out.

“This is AGMP’s first time so we have got to give it a bit of leeway.”

Overall, Paul is optimistic about the future of culture in Medway.

He said: “We are just at the start of this journey and I’ve been here six months and people have said to me it feels like there’s a change in the air and there’s a real positive change and it’s partly because City of Culture.

“They are getting excited about it because of the potential.”

Paul studied at the University of Bradford where he performed in a Take That tribute band called Take This (he was Gary).

He says his creativity was born when he got interested in drama at school.

He has worked on festivals including Glastonbury and previously held a role as head of culture and events at Southwark council, where he worked for 17 years.

One of his proudest moments from his time there was during the London 2012 Olympics in which he was the project manager for its Olympic offerings which included coordinating the torch relay.

He said: “It’s been a route through theatre, festivals and music and it’s been fab.

“I have worked with amazing people, internationally-renowned organisations and I’ve made friends and colleagues and acquaintences who are really important players in the UK’s cultural scene and community.

“To bring all that experience and knowledge to the passion that already exists here in Medway, I’m really honoured to be here.”

His favourite movies are the Star Wars franchise.

He trained as a clarinettist and performed in youth orchestras, and favourite music includes Madonna and the Northern Soul classics enjoyed by his dad.

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