Wakefield is seeking acclaim as the sculpture capital of the UK

Wakefield Council has devised a plan to boost tourism and gain recognition as Britain’s sculpture capital.

The Yorkshire authority hopes to capitalize on the district’s status as the birthplace of world-renowned sculptors Barbara Hepworth and Henry Moore.

Wakefield had “started to emerge as a cultural visitor destination” before the Covid pandemic, with sites such as Yorkshire Sculpture Park, The Hepworth Wakefield and the National Coal Mining Museum attracting tourists, according to a cabinet report.

In 2019, the economic impact of Wakefield’s visitor economy was estimated at £507 million.

After the pandemic, the council established a central tourism team, which created a destination management plan for the next five years.

Key aims of the plan are to increase visitor spend, raise awareness of Wakefield as the sculpture capital of the UK and ensure the district’s infrastructure is ready for growth.

The cabinet will discuss the plan on June 18.