Culture on our high streets
We’ve published two new reports into the benefit culture has for the high street.
Today we’ve published two new pieces of research on the value of cultural organisations to our high streets, showing how important these spaces will be in reanimating local economies as we emerge from the Covid-19 pandemic.
The first is a data report analysing experimental high street data by Ordnance Survey (OS) and a survey of our regularly funded organisations, which shows that cultural buildings are located at the heart of high streets:
Culture has a strong presence on high streets – 75% of buildings used by Arts Council funded organisations are either on or within a 5-minute walk of a high street
Culture helps support local economies by creating jobs – over 300 cultural venues and buildings are located in unemployment hotspots.
Cultural venues provide additional amenities for the public – nearly a quarter of cultural organisations have a café, bar or bookshop (or a combination of all three) onsite.
Dr Darren Henley, Chief Executive, Arts Council England said: “An investment in culture is an investment in our high streets. Theatres, music venues, museums and libraries are the beating hearts of their communities. They’re central to the social fabric and civic pride of towns across England. As well as events and performances for audiences of all ages, they provide a raft of local amenities from bars to bookshops, helping to bring our high streets alive, providing jobs and boosting the economy.”
A second report points to a growing body of evidence that demonstrates culture’s role in revitalising the high street by promoting social cohesion and supporting local economies in towns, cities and villages up and down the country, the Arts and Place Shaping: Evidence Review indicates that culture:
Supports community cohesion – cultural organisations can help build civic pride and create an increased sense of belonging in communities.
Increases footfall – libraries, theatres or museums can play a key role in hosting events and offering unique experiences that attract visitors to high streets.
Helps repurpose vacant buildings – arts and cultural organisations are helping fill the gap left by retailers as they move away from high streets, repurposing vacant properties left by retailers into cultural spaces.
Creates good jobs – culture-led regeneration and investment can drive local economic growth and help create employment.
Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said: “These reports prove what we already know to be true, that culture is at the heart of our towns and cities. It creates jobs and makes our local communities across the country better places to live, work and visit. That is why we are here for culture and investing an unprecedented £1.57 billion to ensure that these important institutions – both big and small – will be able to weather the storm of the coronavirus so the public can continue to enjoy them for years to come.”
The research published today shows how culture and the experience economy can play a strong role in stabilising our high streets. Last year, for instance, the University of Cambridge Museums attracted more than a million visitors – with 48% combining their visit with dinner in a local restaurant and 31% with a local shopping trip.
They can also help fill the gap left by retailers as they move away from town and city centres, repurposing vacant properties into cultural spaces. In Tees Valley non-profit organisation Empty Shop worked with Hartlepool Borough Council, Northern School of Art and Church Street Heritage Townscape project to reanimate Hartlepool’s historic Church Street.
Artists Nick Malyan and Carlo Viglianisi took over the former electrical goods shop, which had been vacant for 18 months. They launched a creative talking shop – a drop-in space to share ideas, tell stories and connect with people in Hartlepool – as well as hosted exhibitions, working in partnership with the Northern Festival of Illustration and bringing together professional artists to collaborate with the public.
Ben Houchen, Tees Valley Mayor, said: “As we begin our recovery from the coronavirus pandemic, it will be vital to protect and rebuild public spaces and encourage people to get back out to responsibly support our local businesses, town centres and creative industries. The work of Empty Shop, the Northern School of Art and Hartlepool Borough Council shows how the region is thinking creatively to support culture by bringing art to local people, backing our high streets and making the Tees Valley an even better place. Innovative projects such as this will boost consumer confidence and, ultimately, safeguard and grow jobs and the economy.”
