Culture and library services can make significant contributions to priority outcomes, including health, adult social care, economic growth, reducing inequalities, community engagement, skills and for children and young people.
The LGA has a range of programmes for councillors, officers and councils, which have been fully funded by Arts Council England, based on the themes around which councillors and officers have told us they most need support.
Leadership Essentials: Culture
Cost: there is no cost to attend, accommodation and meals are included
Programme aims:
- to raise support culture portfolio holders to be exceptional leaders of arts and culture in their places in the context of economic pressures
- to support culture portfolio holders to identify ways in which to leverage culture to engage with communities and support work to reduce health and social inequalities and to develop sustainable approaches
- to share a wide range of inspiring case studies presented by councillor peers and external speakers
- to encourage attendees to network, share information, knowledge and expertise
- to ensure that culture portfolio holders are aware of the strategic work of Arts Council England and the opportunities to work more closely with Arts Council England including their area contacts
- to ensure that culture portfolio holders are aware of the key role of councils in arts and culture and the importance of strategically embedding culture to deliver across council agendas
- to encourage innovation around process and practice, for example, data, procurement and programme approaches
- to share good practice, case studies and support around devolution and local government reorganisation.
To book your place email [email protected]
Online development day for culture officers
Monday 6 July 2026
Are you new to a strategic role in cultural services or developing towards one?
Arts Council England and the LGA are running a one-day workshop via Zoom, featuring sector speakers, case studies and the opportunity to build your peer network. The day is fully funded by Arts Council England.
Themes include national and sector themes, guidance and support, working with councillors, a case study and the opportunity to network with other officers from across the country, who are also working in cultural services.
To apply for a place: complete this application form
For further information email [email protected]
New and emerging lead library officers course
Monday 29 June to Wednesday 1 July (Coventry)
If you are new to a strategic library leadership role or you are developing your career towards a strategic role, it is important to develop skills, networks and sector contacts to support you to work confidently with senior stakeholders and partners to achieve outcomes for your service and local communities.
Arts Council England and the LGA are running a fully-funded residential course at Warwick Conferences, Coventry. Beginning with a networking dinner, you will spend two days hearing and sharing good practice and forming an action plan to apply the learning to your own practice. During the course you will hear from sector speakers including Libraries Connected and the Department for Media Culture and Sport and senior leaders working in local government cultural services.
Applications have just closed, but to join the waiting list for a place please complete the short application form Arts Council England New and emerging lead library officers course - June 2026
For further information email [email protected]
Senior officer leadership programme
This programme has been delivered for 2026, we hope to run a further programme in 2027, which we will begin to advertise in autumn/winter 2026. Keep visiting this page for the latest information.
The LGA and Arts Council England are offering fully-funded culture and library peer challenges for councils to help inform strategic activity tailored to their local place and communities. Peer challenges are carried out to your specification aimed at improving, not judging, your council.
There are options to apply for a online or face to face peer challenges.
The peer challenge can cover a range of themes, including:
- heritage initiatives
- tackling health inequalities
- community engagement
- wellbeing
- reducing loneliness and isolation
- income generation
- alternative delivery models
- co-location
- working with partners
- climate change
- contribution to wider strategic outcomes.
Working collaboratively with the council, a team of expert peers will identify key questions that they can investigate with internal and external stakeholders, which, combined with good practice examples from the peer team’s own networks, will inform a set of recommendations. Your council can use these recommendations to help inform strategic activity. It is important to note that the peer team acts as a critical friend – the process is designed to be supportive and constructive.
The LGA will draw upon its pool of officer and member peers to create a peer challenge team with the expertise to help the council to address the key issues facing its library or cultural services.
The team will spend between 1.5 to 2.5 days, depending on the brief, either onsite or online with the council, meeting councillors, officers and partners, and understanding the council’s work in both theory and practice.
Following the delivery of the peer challenge, your council will receive a confidential report that sets out the key findings, provides some recommendations on the way forward and practical advice and signposting to help the council on its journey.
To find out more email [email protected]
Highlighted pages
Culture and sport improvement
We offer a range of programmes and tools to help councils tackle the challenges and take advantage of the opportunities for culture, tourism and sport.
Leadership Essentials
Leadership Essentials is a series of programmes designed as themed learning opportunities for councillors. Each programme concentrates on a specific portfolio or service area or a specific theme.