Reimagining where we live: cultural placemaking and the levelling up agenda

Culture, Media and Sport Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 7 Jan 2022 Closed: 3 Feb 2023 Parliament page
The role that culture might play in delivering a Government commitment to level up the country is the focus of a new inquiry launched today, Reimagining where we live: cultural placemaking and the levelling up agenda. The DCMS Committee’s inquiry will consider funding for cultural initiatives and how well the … Read more
9 Recommendations
13 Conclusions
1 Report
3 Oral sessions
3 Events
Activity timeline 5 events
3 Feb
2023
Report published
2 Nov
2022
Report published
14 Jun
2022
Oral evidence
21 Apr
2022
Oral evidence
22 Mar
2022
Oral evidence
Oral evidence sessions 3 sessions
14 Jun 2022
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Dr Darren Henley CBE · Arts Council England Duncan Wilson OBE · Historic England The Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay · Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Tom Stickland · Theatres Trust
21 Apr 2022
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Clare Reddington · Watershed Councillor Abi Brown · Stoke-on-Trent City Council Keith Merrin · Tyne and Wear Archives and Museums Sanaz Amidi · Rosetta Arts Tim Joel · Preston City Council
22 Mar 2022
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Jonty Archibald · Global Academy Professor Dave O'Brien Professor Judith Mossman Professor Simon Shepherd
Recommendations & Conclusions
22 results
1 Conclusion
Third Report - Reimagining where w…
The long-term challenges continuing to face our high streets and town centres are well documented.
The long-term challenges continuing to face our high streets and town centres are well documented. Cultural placemaking can be (and in many places already is) one way that local communities, government and arm’s-length bodies respond to these challenges. It is … Read more
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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2 Recommendation
Third Report - Reimagining where w…
The Government should take steps to level up cultural opportunities and production across the country...
The Government should take steps to level up cultural opportunities and production across the country through its proposed statutory framework set out in the Levelling-Up and Regeneration Bill currently working its way through Parliament. We recommend that the Government commits … Read more
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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3 Conclusion
Third Report - Reimagining where w…
Despite the potential for the creative industries to help drive the Government’s Levelling Up agenda,...
Despite the potential for the creative industries to help drive the Government’s Levelling Up agenda, funding and support for arts and culture emulates the broader geographic disparities that affect the UK economy and society as a whole. The Government and … Read more
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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4 Recommendation
Third Report - Reimagining where w…
We recommend that the Government and Arts Council England reconsider how they allocate funding by...
We recommend that the Government and Arts Council England reconsider how they allocate funding by regions. We propose a model whereby world class, national cultural institutions, who often receive the most significant levels of public cash, are categorised and allocated … Read more
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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5 Conclusion
Third Report - Reimagining where w…
We also recommend that these national cultural organisations should have differing expectations as a condition...
We also recommend that these national cultural organisations should have differing expectations as a condition of public funding, including greater accessibility for audiences nationwide and support for grassroots organisations, in a similar way as to how the “crown jewels” of … Read more
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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6 Conclusion
Third Report - Reimagining where w…
Despite efforts to rebalance the geographic disparities in investment in arts and culture through flagship...
Despite efforts to rebalance the geographic disparities in investment in arts and culture through flagship funds and competitive grants, we share concerns with the sector regarding the sustainability and accessibility of funding over the longer-term. We welcome that the Government … Read more
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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7 Recommendation
Third Report - Reimagining where w…
We recommend that the Government should consider how it can support arts and culture through...
We recommend that the Government should consider how it can support arts and culture through means other than one-off or flagship funds but, instead, generate sustainable public funding settlements and pump-prime private sector investment. Recent reforms to funding competitions like … Read more
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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8 Conclusion
Third Report - Reimagining where w…
While our inquiry focused on the financial barriers to cultural placemaking, there are many factors...
While our inquiry focused on the financial barriers to cultural placemaking, there are many factors that co-determine whether local places can develop and maintain sustainable cultural infrastructure. Our inquiry has heard potential policy recommendations from stakeholders across the sector and … Read more
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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9 Recommendation
Third Report - Reimagining where w…
Consistent with the ambitions of Levelling Up, we recommend that local communities and stakeholders are...
Consistent with the ambitions of Levelling Up, we recommend that local communities and stakeholders are given a greater role in decision-making. This could be done by building on the Community Ownership Fund, reducing the bureaucracy in funding application processes, encouraging … Read more
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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10 Conclusion
Third Report - Reimagining where w…
Alongside its impact on individuals and households, the cost-of-living crisis poses an existential threat to...
Alongside its impact on individuals and households, the cost-of-living crisis poses an existential threat to the cultural, sporting and media organisations and infrastructures that are at the centre of our communities at a time when they need Reimagining where we … Read more
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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11 Conclusion
Third Report - Reimagining where w…
The Government needs to engage with these sectors as a matter of urgency and bring...
The Government needs to engage with these sectors as a matter of urgency and bring forward targeted support in response to the current crisis, such as through VAT or business rate relief, to prevent exacerbating long-term scarring on organisations already … Read more
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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12 Conclusion
Third Report - Reimagining where w…
It is a matter of serious concern that despite the UK’s status as home to...
It is a matter of serious concern that despite the UK’s status as home to successful, world-renowned creative industries, the sector is experiencing a significant and ongoing national skills shortage. This has compounded the issue of poor social mobility in … Read more
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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13 Conclusion
Third Report - Reimagining where w…
Current working arrangements within the creative industries, such as the emphasis on freelancing and volunteer...
Current working arrangements within the creative industries, such as the emphasis on freelancing and volunteer work, lack of work experience opportunities and need to relocate to London and the South East, are anathema to the aspirations of levelling up people’s … Read more
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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14 Recommendation
Third Report - Reimagining where w…
We encourage arm’s-length bodies, especially those responsible for administering funding on behalf of Government such...
We encourage arm’s-length bodies, especially those responsible for administering funding on behalf of Government such as the Arts Council and Historic England, to take further steps and ensure that organisations in the sector are working to improve working conditions across … Read more
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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15 Conclusion
Third Report - Reimagining where w…
Arts and cultural education is important in its own right for the social benefits it...
Arts and cultural education is important in its own right for the social benefits it brings, but it is also an important factor in addressing issues of poor social mobility and the national skills shortage. While we welcome the Government’s … Read more
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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16 Recommendation
Third Report - Reimagining where w…
We recommend that the Government take tangible steps to address the national skills shortage and...
We recommend that the Government take tangible steps to address the national skills shortage and incentivise cultural activity in education, starting by ensuring the long- term viability for schools that provide vocational, industry-backed qualifications. It should also expand the model … Read more
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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17 Conclusion
Third Report - Reimagining where w…
We have little faith that national government and arm’s-length bodies are taking a joined-up approach...
We have little faith that national government and arm’s-length bodies are taking a joined-up approach with local government to Levelling Up cultural infrastructure. Though cultural policy is devolved, and indeed central government should continue to resist centralising impulses, DCMS has … Read more
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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18 Conclusion
Third Report - Reimagining where w…
The “cultural compacts” initiative appears to have had a positive impact in bringing together local...
The “cultural compacts” initiative appears to have had a positive impact in bringing together local stakeholders, driving strategic planning for culture and facilitating local engagement, contingent on examples of best practice.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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19 Recommendation
Third Report - Reimagining where w…
The Government should continue to support the initiative by aiming to at least double the...
The Government should continue to support the initiative by aiming to at least double the number of compacts, and explicitly target rural areas in this expansion to better understand and develop a blueprint as to how they can be established … Read more
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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20 Recommendation
Third Report - Reimagining where w…
As part of this process, the Government should also undertake an audit of necessary skills...
As part of this process, the Government should also undertake an audit of necessary skills in cultural placemaking and collaborative policymaking, and provide a roadmap as to how the provision of these skills and best practice can be delivered and … Read more
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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21 Conclusion
Third Report - Reimagining where w…
The services and spaces offered by public libraries remain an important part of a community’s...
The services and spaces offered by public libraries remain an important part of a community’s infrastructure for people who are digitally excluded or who live in deprived neighbourhoods.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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22 Recommendation
Third Report - Reimagining where w…
The Government should support the development of a network of hubs providing cultural spaces, workspaces...
The Government should support the development of a network of hubs providing cultural spaces, workspaces and free, fast internet access in places most in need of levelling up in order to modernise library service provision. (Paragraph 114) Reimagining where we … Read more
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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