Embedding Culturein local and regional policy : Embedding Culture in local and regional policy Charles Freeman Executive Director Culture South East


Setting the agenda : Setting the agenda Culture South East and Regional Cultural Consortia www.culturesoutheast.org.uk Embedding culture in local and regional policy Regional policy, the Regional Economic Strategy (RES), the South East Plan and the Regional Sustainability Framework Embedding policy at local level, Local Strategic Partnerships (LSPs), Community Strategies and Local Area Agreements (LAAs) Conclusions


Slide4: Regional Cultural Consortia (RCCs) Established in 1999 by the Department for Culture Media and Sport DCMS in each English region outside London to champion culture and creative interests Funding agreement priorities To support the embedding of culture in regional policy To maximise the contribution of culture to local and sub regional policy To develop the evidence base under-pinning culture’s contribution to local and regional policy - To maximise the contribution of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games to the region


Slide5: What does the Cultural Sector consist of? Arts, performance, music, visual arts Design, crafts, fashion Tourism, rural and urban heritage Festivals, events Media, film, digital/interactive culture Museums, archives Libraries, lifelong learning


Slide6: What does the Cultural Sector consist of? Natural environment and built heritage Sports and recreation, physical activity Parks, children’s play Informal leisure, walking Contributions of faith communities, volunteers


Our constitution: Our constitution An independent non departmental public body (NDPB) Chair Kalwant Ajimal appointed by the Secretary of State for Culture Board includes regional Chief Executives of the six DCMS agencies and representatives of the sector Memorandum of Understanding with partners to work collaboratively to maximise the contribution of culture to regional policy


Three elements of cultural value(John Holden, Head of Culture, Demos, Valuing Culture in the South East ) : Three elements of cultural value (John Holden, Head of Culture, Demos, Valuing Culture in the South East ) Instrumental value Intrinsic value Institutional value


Slide10: Our model for embedding culture in local and regional policy Governance/voice for culture Research and evidence/ monitoring and evaluation Community leadership Accountability/ evidence base Strategic leadership Joined up delivery Strategy Delivery and business planning


The South East Region : The South East Region


Regional policy 1: Regional policy 1 Regional Economic Strategy (South East England Economic Development Agency (SEEDA) Lead) Enterprise (gross value added, employment, global competitiveness, reaping the dividend of diversity) Skills (inspire young people, Skills for Business, community learning, social capital) Inclusion and cohesion –Engaging hard to reach groups Place shaping (what makes somewhere a good place to live, work and invest) Development of evidence based practice Making the most of 2012 (RES transformational action, business infrastructure, skills, sport, communities, visitor economy)


Regional policy 2 : Regional policy 2 Regional Spatial Strategy / The South East Plan (Assembly Lead) 1m new homes in SE next 30 years Sustainable communities: how do we build communities where people want to live, work and invest ? Challenge of Cohesion- How do we look after needs of existing communities as well as incoming communities? Regional Infrastructure planning? Regional Sustainability Framework (Assembly Lead) Economic Sustainability (sustainable tourism) Environmental Sustainability (protection of the historic environment) Social Justice (inclusive cultural participation)


Slide14: Applying the model to regional policy Voice SEEDA and CSE have a common board member CSE Chair sits on RES Leadership Group CSE represented on Assembly LSC represented on CSE Board CSE represented on Regional Sustainable Futures group. Strategy Regional Cultural Strategy John Holden Demos think piece Cultural Values in the SE Martin Elson – SE Plan Culture Proofing Check List Delivery Sector Consortia, Tourism Media Creative Industries to be established CSE/LSC/SEEDA Skills Task group National and Regional Collaboration Living Places priorities LAA toolkit Evidence South East Cultural Observatory www.seco.org.uk Developing the evidence base for support of cultural and creative activities in the South East – Kate Oakley Demonstrating the case for culture


Influencing local policy : Influencing local policy 19 upper tier authorities in the South East (county or unitary) 74 Authorities including districts Government requires local authorities to bring together local partners to set local priorities via the Local Strategic Partnership (Health, police, university, private sector, faith community sector, transport etc. Culture ? ) Upper Tier Authorities negotiate Local Area Agreement (LAA) with Government Office for the Region… LAAs intended to become foundation for Central Government funding of local services


The LSP Community Strategy LAA Spine : The LSP Community Strategy LAA Spine Cultural Representation on LSPs 60% Unitary 50% District 30% County Culture is however rarely represented on LSP Board Community Strategies Only 64% Community Strategies include cultural content Culture is most frequently linked to health, young people, inclusion,cohesion and economic objectives Local Area Agreements Cultural representation first Generation LAAs in region disappointing Sport best represented in relation to health targets (partly due to strong baseline evidence – Active People Survey) Syzygy Research 2006


Applying model at local level 1: Applying model at local level 1 Voice Local Government Task Group brings together DCMS agencies to support local government Creating Cultural Champions project Strategy Encourage local Cultural Strategies and establish local Cultural Partnerships DCMS Regional Commentaries initiatives helps agencies and local government agree mutual priorities


Applying model at local level 2: Applying model at local level 2 Delivery Development of LAA toolkit Collaborative work between agencies to support both Local Authorities and Government Office in negotiation of LAAs Local Partners increasingly commission rather than deliver direct, the social enterprise sector is increasingly important but at risk of being under capitalised Evidence - SECO supporting local government agenda - Improved national surveys (Active People, Sport, Taking Part) - Weak indicators for the economy and crime prevention


Culture and Sport Local Area Agreement Toolkit South East Regionwww.seco.org.uk/laatoolkitYvonne Barker, Yew Consulting Ltd  Angela Watson, Angela Watson & Associates : Culture and Sport Local Area Agreement Toolkit South East Region www.seco.org.uk/laatoolkit Yvonne Barker, Yew Consulting Ltd Angela Watson, Angela Watson & Associates


Slide21: Strong and Prosperous Communities – The Local Government White Paper (2006) Every Child Matters (2004) Youth Matters (2006) Aiming High for Young People (2007) Care Matters (2007) Disability Discrimination Act (2005): Disability Equality Duty Improving the Life Chances of Disabled People (2005) Our Shared Future (2007) Respect Action Plan: Activities for Children and Young People (2006) Skills and Workforce Development 14-19 Education and Skills (2005) Further Education: Raising Skills, Improving Life Chances (2006) World Class Skills and the Leitch Review (2006) Our Health, Our Care, Our Say (2006) Delivering Choosing Health (2005) Choosing Activity: a physical activity action plan (2005) How culture contributes to regional drivers and policy areas


Slide22: South East Plan   Regional Economic Strategy Compete, Create, Collaborate for a World Class Performance South East England Health Strategy Social inclusion South East Social Inclusion Statement South East Skills, Education & Employment for London 2012 Local priorities The Cultural Cornerstone   The Cultural Learning Curve   Sustainable Culture, Sustainable Communities Health Crime Communities Skills Economy Environment Housing Transport Young people How culture contributes to regional and local priorities


The relationship between culture, sport and strengthening communities and involving people outcomes: The relationship between culture, sport and strengthening communities and involving people outcomes


Conclusions 1 : Conclusions 1 The contribution culture can make to regional and local policy is getting increasing recognition The past has been dominated by partnership working; it has been vital therefore to get a seat at the table A key role for RCCs has been to try to explain how culture fits into increasingly complex regional and local government structures


Conclusions 2 : Conclusions 2 Increased business support is needed for specialist delivery organisations Lack of evidence has tended to hold back the sector in articulating its contribution at local and regional level The tide seems to be changing; a managerial approach calling for evidence-based practice seems to be being replaced by a professional judgement based approach which will bring new challenges and opportunities