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Commission on Culture and Local Government: themes

The Culture Commission has explored how culture contributes to four key themes of enquiry: place, sustainable and inclusive economic recovery, health inequalities and social mobility. Each of these themes were discussed by expert commissioners in a roundtable session. Here you can find the outcomes of each roundtable session and other resources.


Culture and sustainable and inclusive economic recovery

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On 27 April 2022, expert commissioners gathered to discuss the role of culture within sustainable and inclusive economic recovery, as part of the LGA's Commission on Culture and Local Government.

Proposition: Publicly funded culture is essential to a sustainable and inclusive economic recovery from the pandemic, particularly in relation to the growth of the wider commercial creative economy and in levelling up economic inequalities between regions.

Questions explored

  • High streets. How can locally funded cultural services and organisations bring life back to high streets and town centres, where an existing decline in retail has been aggravated by the pandemic and a change in working patterns has affected office occupancy and footfall in town centres?

  • Public funding and the creative industries. In the context of the new sector vision for the creative industries, what role does publicly funded culture play in supporting growth in the wider creative industries, particularly in areas identified as priorities for ‘levelling up’?
  • Cultural regeneration. What evidence is there that investment in cultural regeneration programmes can change perceptions about place and contribute to sustainable and inclusive economic growth?

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You can view an illustration of the sustainable and inclusive economic recovery roundtable topics, created by graphic scribe Natasa Sears (description below).

 

 

Luton's Hat District: short film 

Luton's Hat District: audio described version

Culture and health inequalities

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Commissioners gathered on 26 May to discuss the role of culture in challenging health inequalities exacerbated by the pandemic.

Proposition: Publicly funded culture can challenge health inequalities exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Questions explored

  • Mental health. How can locally funded cultural activity support greater social connection and engagement and help to address rising levels of mental ill health exacerbated by the pandemic?
  • Health and wellbeing in children and young people. How can locally funded cultural services and organisations specifically support children whose mental wellbeing has been affected by the pandemic?
  • Isolation. How can locally funded cultural services and organisations help to reconnect those who have suffered from isolation during the pandemic, particularly in relation to the clinically vulnerable?

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You can view an illustration of the health inequalities roundtable topics, created by graphic scribe Natasa Sears (description below).

 

 

Suffolk Libraries: short film

Suffolk Libraries: audio descripted version 

 

Culture and social mobility

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What is the role of culture in expanding social mobility? On 16 June 2022 the expert commissioners came together to discuss this and more. 

Proposition: Investment in cultural education and creative skills can lead to greater economic opportunity and social mobility.

Questions explored

  • Education – what role do local cultural organisations have to play in supporting better educational outcomes in school age children following the pandemic?
  • Skills - How does access to culture and the development of creative skills open up opportunities in training and employment, specifically to those from lower socio-economic backgrounds? What models can we learn from following the pandemic?
  • Employment. Can targeted investment in culture and creativity make a contribution to addressing regional inequalities in relation to employment in culture and the creative industries? Can investment in creative skills contribute to growth in employment in other sectors?

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You can view an illustration of the social mobility roundtable topics, created by graphic scribe Natasa Sears (description below).

 

 

Improving social mobility in Wakefield

Improving social mobility in Wakefield: audio described version 

Culture and place

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Publicly funded culture can promote civic pride and change perceptions about a place. On 21 July our commissioners gathered to discuss the role of culture in place.

Proposition: Publicly funded culture can promote civic pride and change perceptions about a place, leading to wider social and economic outcomes.

Questions explored

  • Connection to place and ‘civic pride’. What evidence is there that people’s satisfaction in place and quality of life is shaped by the availability of access to cultural activities and engagement? How can investment in culture create more networked, resilient places?
  • Place, collaboration and funding. How can we move towards a more strategic long-term and collaborative approach to funding culture at a place-based level? What models are already out there and how can we build on them?

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You can view an illustration of the topics discussed at the place roundtable, created by graphic scribe Natasa Sears (description below).

 

 

Importance of place in Weston-super-Mare

Importance of place in Weston-super-Mare: audio described version