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Funding of £100,000 has been received by a pioneering West of England organisation dedicated to shaping a regional plan for culture and creativity.
The investment from the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation will be used by the Citizens’ Assembly – the UK’s first – to pilot early ideas and test new approaches.
Some 100 cultural organisations and stakeholders from across the region have already committed to working together to enhance and open up the West of England’s world-renowned creativity.
As more than half the members want to continue their involvement over the coming three years, it will now become a Citizens for Culture panel.
To coincide with the funding and name change, the organisation has set out its vision for “a West of England where culture is for everyone as part of everyday life, where everyone can take part, be heard, and feel proud of where they live”.
The report was launched at an event last night with West of England Mayor Helen Godwin, council leaders, Arts Council England, funders and creative leaders.
The report’s recommendations include working to:
- Open up parks, libraries, schools, heritage buildings and unused spaces to gather and create, repurposing unused sites as shared creative resource hubs
- Create an easy-to-use local and regional directory showing what’s on, where, and how to join in
- Set up smaller local cultural assemblies to help guide future funding and decisions, with rotating memberships and publish details about cultural funding, involving local people in decisions, and working with underrepresented groups
- Embed creative learning into school life and link with local arts providers
- Develop creative solutions for more affordable and accessible transport options, trialled by selected venues with transport providers.
Dame Caroline Mason, CEO of the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, said Citizens for Culture shifted power to local people – giving them direct control over investment into culture where they live.
“We’re excited and proud to be supporting the realisation of this citizen-led plan and its potential to influence change across the UK,” she added.
Mayor Godwin said: “Whether it’s Weston reaching the third round of the FA Cup, Aardman winning an Oscar, Bath’s ever-growing tourism offer or Rivals winning an Emmy, the West’s culture is unmatched.
“With more investment on the way, the best is yet to come. I’m thrilled that the Citizens’ Assembly will continue as the Citizens for Culture panel, with funding to pilot their ideas.
“This report is an important moment, with recommendations ranging from parks to schools to transport. We know how important it is to open up our region for everyone to have chance to enjoy, as Kids Go Free proved over the summer and Christmas school holidays.
“I’m looking forward to working with the citizens, our wider communities, creative sector, and councils to make culture more accessible for all.”
Phil Gibby, area director for the South West at Arts Council England, added: “The learning from the Citizens’ Assembly is essential reading for everyone with an interest in arts and culture in the West of England.
“It’s encouraging to know that the journey will continue, and we look forward to engaging with the conversations that lie ahead.”
This year, the West of England becomes one of just six regions to access £25m of devolved funding through the Government’s Creative Places Growth Fund.
The creative industries are a key part of the Growth Strategy for the coming decade, which aims to create 72,000 new jobs here in the country’s fastest growing region (+3%, 2023).
Since 2015, almost 18,500 jobs were created in the sector in the West – the most of any English region, including London.
Citizens for Culture – a partnership between Trinity Community Arts, Involve associate LaToyah McAllister-Jones, Citizens in Power and the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority – is backed by Bath & North East Somerset Council, Bristol City Council, North Somerset Council and South Gloucestershire Council.
As well as the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, it is also supported by Arts Council England, the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation and Paul Hamlyn Foundation.