Citizens for Culture panel pilot plans to transform access to arts in the West
Fifty-one local people have been tasked with improving cultural opportunities for everyone
A new panel made up of West of England residents is being given £100,000 to test ideas aimed at making arts and culture in the region more accessible to everyone.
The money will allow the Citizens for Culture panel to try out measures suggested in a recent report created by the UK’s first Citizens’ Assembly for culture and creativity.
Fifty-one residents from across the West of England spent two months brainstorming ideas on how to make arts and culture more inclusive.
Their recommendations include turning parks, libraries, schools, heritage sites, and unused buildings into shared creative spaces, and trialling affordable public transport options with local venues and providers.
The report highlighted calls for smaller, local cultural assemblies to ensure funding and decisions are transparent and that underrepresented groups are part of conversations about arts and creative opportunities.
Keeping culture central to school life was another priority, as well as creating a regional directory to make it easier for people to find out what activities or events are happening and how to get involved.
Maria, an artist who took part in the Citizens’ Assembly, said that the experience had taught her the importance of everyone’s voice being heard.
“Everyone’s opinion was heard and valued, and it made you feel that you truly belonged,” Maria said.
While some participants were keen on cultural activities before joining the Assembly, others admitted they had learned to see the arts differently.
“Before the Assembly I would have considered such activities as ‘nice to have’, now I see them as vital to our communities,” Gareth, another resident, said.
What’s next for the region?
The Citizens for Culture panel will now take forward the Assembly’s work by trialling early ideas designed to improve culture and creativity across the West.
Helen Godwin, Mayor of the West of England, said extending cultural opportunities for everyone in the region was a priority.
“With more investment on the way, the best is yet to come,” she said. “This report is an important moment, with recommendations ranging from parks to schools to transport. I’m looking forward to working with the citizens, our wider communities, and councils to make culture more accessible for all.”