Investing in rural communities
We recognise the strength of creativity and culture in England’s rural areas and in rural communities.
About rural positioning
About rural positioning
Diversifying rural economies, supporting tourism, and bringing communities together.
Our investment and support is fundamental to this but we have to work in partnership with local government, with the sector, and with rural communities themselves. It is through these partnerships that we can sustain and grow culture and the arts in rural areas.
‘Arts, culture and rural communities – how the Arts Council works in rural England’ sets out how we will approach the specific needs and aspirations of rural communities in order to deliver our strategy. It sets out key partnerships and how we will engage with rural stakeholders to ensure that our approach is appropriate.
Download and read the full report:
Our approach
Our approach
Our approach to rural communities is governed by the following principles, which we will take these into account as we advocate, develop, invest and form partnerships.
- We do not see the need for a specific rural strategy or investment programmes – but we do want to see rural communities benefiting appropriately from the totality of our support.
- We recognise that rural communities have specific characteristics and needs including sparsity and cost of services, rural deprivation, transport and access issues – and will take account of these.
- We will continue to work in partnership with Defra to take account of rural proofing and to amend our approach to this over time and in the light of experience.
- We will continue a national dialogue with rural stakeholders from across England, and use this to inform our policy and work. We reaffirm our commitment to the following ways of working: responding to the specific needs of rural areas; supporting artists working in rural areas; improving access for rural audiences; and building partnerships for growth.
Rural stakeholders group
Rural stakeholders group
Following a rural proofing workshop with the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) in 2013, it was recommended that we improve our engagement with rural stakeholders to better inform our policy making.
In response to this we set up a Rural Stakeholders Group, which meets twice a year with key Arts Council staff.
The Group is chaired by Laura Dyer, our Deputy CEO Places, Engagement, and Libraries and consists of people representing rural cultural organisations across the arts, museums and libraries, and from different parts of the country.
It includes organisations beyond the cultural sector representing rural communities, as well as public agencies who are our partners in rural areas, including local government and the National Parks.
View a list of the attendees below.