How can culture engineer the levelling-up agenda?
The Levelling Up White Paper, published on 2nd February 2022, included 107 references to how culture can support the levelling up agenda, with a promise that DCMS will further set out its plan to deliver to this agenda in the spring, including £40m of successful projects in England as part of the Cultural Investment Fund – which includes the Cultural Development Fund, (CDF).
During this session at Creative UK‘s Creative Coalition Festival 2022, our expert panel discussed the role of culture in engineering the levelling-up agenda, including …
- What interventions, partnerships and investments are required to lay the ground for a thriving cultural centre in regional towns and cities?
- What are the economic drivers and expected outcomes?
- To what extent do existing schemes – including CDF – support the levelling-up agenda?
- How can cultural organisations and creatives contribute to local decision-making and placemaking?
- How can culture and creatives reanimate our public spaces and shopping streets?
- How can the government support places without established artistic infrastructure to take full advantage of opportunities that the Levelling Up Fund provides?
CDF Network panel
Panellists for this session included:
- Paul Bristow, Director of Strategic Partnerships, Arts Council England
- James Trowsdale, Strategic Lead for Culture, North East Lincolnshire Council
- Hannah Harris, CEO Plymouth Culture
- Helen Mole , Tourism and City Centre Manager, Worcester City Council
- Emma Wilcox, Project Director, Creative Estuary
The session was chaired by Jason Jones-Hall, Director of Five10Twelve
