Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole Cultural Strategy
In 2023 our team worked with the newly formed Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Cultural Compact to lead on the co-creation, consultation and adoption of a first ‘whole place’ Culture Strategy. Impetus for the project came off the back of a major Local Government Review resulting in the reorganisation of three urban and one rural Council to form a new Unitary Local Authority. Further context of major cuts to Council funding and reductions to arts funding and subsidies demanded an urgent and radical approach with the cultural and creative sector to forge new collaborations, get behind a clear vision and deliver a sustainable way forward.
This work involved mapping creative networks and consulting with over 450 stakeholders in Bournemouth, Poole & Christchurch to co-create the vision, aims and actions through a series of face-to-face workshops and online surveys.
Working closely with the Cultural Compact the strategy laid the foundations to bring together stakeholders to unlock investment, broker new alliances and start useful conversations to empower those who deliver and develop quality, accessible and inclusive cultural activity. Key outcomes have resulted in the hosting and establishment of regular Culture Networking events, strengthening partnerships between the creative and cultural sectors and NHS, health and care sectors and collaborating with education providers and industry to boost talent and skills development.
The BCP Cultural Strategy focuses on three key development goals:
TALENT: Embrace creative education, develop a skilled workforce, champion diverse cultural expression and enable people of all backgrounds to actively participate in the cultural life of our communities and the region as a whole.
INFRASTRUCTURE: Build cultural capacity by using the excellence of existing hubs, venues and organisations, developing new spaces and boosting the region as a place that produces and hosts great art and culture of international significance.
PLACE: Embed culture in planning and placemaking, with a focus on nurturing distinctive neighbourhoods, dynamic town centres, accessible and imaginative public spaces, urban mobility and an attention to social cohesion, health and wellbeing and environmental sustainability.