With around 180 attendees from across the creative and cultural sector, the third Cultural Development Gathering event shared learning from across the third round of Cultural Development Fund (CDF) Projects. Taking place in one of our third round recipient places, Stoke-on-Trent, the theme of this conference was Project Legacy.
With a packed programme, including short and inspiring Lightning Talks from each of the projects and four deep-dive panels, there was plenty to digest from the event. This followed opening remarks from Cllr Jenny Ashworth, Leader of Stoke-on-Trent City Council, and David Johnson, Director Strategic Partnerships and Place for Arts Council England.
Addressing the main conference theme in his opening remarks, David Johnson said:
“Legacy isn’t just what is built. It’s what lasts:
the skills and capabilities you’ve developed locally;
the partnerships you’ve strengthened;
the governance and operating models that will sustain activity;
the renewed confidence in what culture can do for place.
These are the outcomes that matter most, and they are the outcomes that inform policy, funding design and future programmes.”
Panels
In addition to the short Lightning Talks offering insights into the people and programmes behind each project, deep-dive discussions were focused around four key panels:
Panel 1: Leadership, Ownership and Operations
This session featured a representative spread of the different types of organisations who have led the CDF3 capital projects – from Local Authorities to Universities, NPOs to charitable trusts or CICs.
Panel 2: Test and Learn
This session explored the importance of building from a strong strategic vision that still allows room to flex.
Panel 3: Launching (not landing)
This session looked at how we approach the cliff-edge of the end of a funded period as an opportunity to fly, not fall. How do we build our projects as a hang-glider rather than as a bungee cord? Â
Panel 4: Culture as Catalyst
This session explored the wider impact of cultural infrastructure. While financial reporting to funders (or boards) may tie impact to a specific project or postcode, socio-economic impact spreads far and wide beyond this, with culture often acting as a catalyst for place development and regen. (See also City/Town of Culture and recent reports, including Future Cultural Spaces, The role of culture-led regeneration in place transformation and From Flagships to Flotillas).Â
Take-aways
We are incredibly grateful to attendees for making the trip to attend this event in Stoke-on-trent and especially for those who took the time to share their thoughts, reflections and take-aways from the event through their own networks. A short selection of some of these follows below:
Lizzie Glithero-West, CEO of the fantastic Heritage Alliance, posted a thorough summary and live-blog of the event, which captures both the event and take-aways itself and highlights from an accompanying walking tour of Stoke and its heritage sites and ceramic works.
Brief summary of selected take-aways from other attendees, (with links to complete and original posts):
Convene well, check and align visions, root cultural planning in the place and build legacy from day one. Jo Plimmer, Senior Arts Development Officer, Bristol City Council:
Root projects in place and be proud of where you are from. Dean Evison, Creative and Heritage Programme Adviser for Create North East Lincolnshire “
Build meaningful legacies through collaboration, creativity and long-term thinking. Paul Cowell: Chief Cultural Officer, Medway Council:
Importance of partnership working. Docking Station, Chatham:
When pride is backed by investment and opportunity, places can really prosper. Katie Balcombe, Partner at Tangram:
Use culture as a means to build a better future for local places and communities. Chris Batstone, Senior Relationship Manager, Strategic Partnerships at Arts Council England:
Design programmes with long-term impact in mind, embed collaboration at the heart of delivery, align cultural initiatives with sustainable development goals. Adelouwa Adebisi, Project Manager and Executive Officer:
Value of early planning, balancing capital and revenue budgets, make space to look after yourself and teams during pressurised moments. Laura Bullivant, Cultural Development Manager and Community Museum Manager, Hampshire Cultural Trust:
