Helping culture flourish in our cities
The Cultural Cities Enquiry is publishing a report that outlines key recommendations that will help UK cities prosper through investment in culture. In light of increasing financial pressures, the Enquiry was launched last year to develop new models that will help arts and culture thrive in our cities.
Independently chaired by Virgin Money CEO Dame Jayne-Anne Gahdia, who worked closely with our chair Sir Nicholas Serota, it brought together cities, UK Arts Councils and various leaders from the cultural, education and business sectors. Key partners include Core Cities UK, Key Cities, London Councils, Comedia, ArtsEkta, Heritage Lottery Fund, UKHospitality and Crown Estates.
Sir Nicholas Serota, Chair, Arts Council England, said: “Successful cities are those that create opportunities for people to earn their living, make friends, bring up families and engage in leisure and sport. Culture makes a vital contribution to these activities, while the creative industries are our fastest growing business sector. This Report shows how we can make best use of our cities’ cultural assets to build strong communities for the future.”
The report sets out a collaborative vision for how arts and culture can continue to flourish, while taking a more central role in civic life. It outlines ways that cities can make better use of their cultural assets to compete successfully for talent, tourism and investment – emphasising how important culture is to building places where people want to visit, live and work.
What does the enquiry recommend?
City Cultural Compacts: Drawing together partners from across city government, culture, business and higher education
Corporate Social Venture Funds: Highlighting the value of social investment into culture and creative organisations
- Creative Talent Pathways: Coordinating approaches to developing creative talent to meet local needs (which government could support by making apprenticeship levy rules more flexible)
- Cultural property assets: Making strategic use of cities’ cultural property assets to revive high streets and city centres
Dame Jayne-Anne Gadhia CBE, Virgin Money CEO and Independent Chair of the Cultural Cities Enquiry said: “Our aim in undertaking this enquiry was to help cities across the UK to unlock the full potential of culture to promote thriving communities and drive economic growth. Smart investment, innovation and collaboration are at the heart of our proposals to radically increase the ability of cities to use arts and culture to maximise the social and economic benefits of a city’s culture for everyone.”
