Case studies from the LGA's guide 'Culture-led regeneration: achieving inclusive and sustainable growth' publication.
Culture-led regeneration as a local policy has been around for many years, but arguably has a higher profile now that at any earlier time. Councils across England and Wales, along with their partners, have competed hard in recent years to be awarded the titles of UK City of Culture, European Capital of Culture and London Borough of Culture. Major national programmes, such as Arts Council England’s ‘Creative People and Places’ and the Arts Council and Heritage Lottery Fund’s ‘Great Place Scheme’, are supporting economic and social regeneration through culture, while the positive force of key cultural institutions and community-based cultural programmes is delivering regeneration outcomes right across the country.
There is now a clear acknowledgement of the social and economic value of the cultural sector, and its ability to deliver growth and drive regeneration. These impacts can range from growth in tourism, creative and cultural sectors, to enhancing individual skills, knowledge and confidence, to strengthening community pride and place image.
The LGA and Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation are working together to capture local authority good practice in this area. This page brings together 15 case studies demonstrating different approaches to culture-led regeneration across England and Wales, and the positive impacts they can deliver.
- Peckham Levels
- Green Man Festival, Powys
- ‘Out There’ international festival of street arts and circus, Great Yarmouth
- Manchester International Festival
- Cornwall 365
- New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership – ‘Culture Drives Growth’ strategy
- Appetite, Stoke-on-Trent
- Culture Works, North East Lincolnshire
- MOSTYN Gallery, Conwy
- Portsmouth cultural infrastructure
- Storyhouse, Chester
- Dreamland and Turner Contemporary, Margate
- First Art programme, Ashfield, Bolsover, Mansfield and North East Derbyshire
Highlighted pages
Culture-led regeneration: achieving inclusive and sustainable growth
Culture Hub: good practice in cultural services
The LGA, with support from Arts Council England, has developed this online hub which shares good practice in the delivery of cultural services by councils and their partners.