Project overview
Through a new toolkit and package of support this project will make a step change in how local authorities and cultural trusts develop, maintain and evaluate cultural strategies. As arts and cultural provision faces funding pressure and uncertainty, an effective cultural strategy is essential. However, the existence and quality of cultural strategies is variable with current guidance limited in terms of applied value (e.g. static PDF reports and checklists). This project will create a research-informed toolkit that explicitly enables local authorities and cultural trusts to change their practices to create more accessible and meaningful strategies as they work for their communities and advocate for arts and culture.
The significance of cultural strategies has been established through the LGA’s Cultural strategy in a box (2020) and the PI’s co-authored report Cultural Strategies and Futures report (doi:10.5258/SOTON/P1118). Coverage in Arts Professional of this report highlighted ‘the significant difference it makes for local authorities to have a well-developed cultural strategy in place to access funding, unlock investment, and deliver lasting impacts’ (Five10Twelve CEO Samara Jones-Hall).
The project is explicitly connected with the AHRC place-based research programme and involves collaboration with the local government membership body (the LGA), local authorities, and a wider diversity of place-based organisations (e.g., cultural trusts).
The significance of cultural strategies has been established through the LGA’s Cultural strategy in a box (2020) and the PI’s co-authored report Cultural Strategies and Futures report (doi:10.5258/SOTON/P1118). Coverage in Arts Professional of this report highlighted ‘the significant difference it makes for local authorities to have a well-developed cultural strategy in place to access funding, unlock investment, and deliver lasting impacts’ (Five10Twelve CEO Samara Jones-Hall).
The project is explicitly connected with the AHRC place-based research programme and involves collaboration with the local government membership body (the LGA), local authorities, and a wider diversity of place-based organisations (e.g., cultural trusts).
