Culture Commons launches 'the future of cultural devolution in the UK'
Today (05. November) sees the launch of Culture Commons’ recommendations from their open policy development programme exploring cultural devolution in the UK. These policy recommendations have emerged from a year-long period of research, creative workshops and insight gathering sessions, which Culture Counts have been participating in as a partner.
The full series of twenty recommendations, linked with the research that informed them, is available on the Culture Commons microsite, here.
In summary, the findings of the research are that:
Appetite for more localised decision-making is a UK wide phenomenon – but it’s complicated and underexplored.
UK wide collaborations bring benefits – and there is significant potential for more
There is a fear of further policy fragmentation
Regional imbalances in ecosystem investments are universally recognised – and ‘local decision-making’ is offering hope.
The creative, cultural and heritage sectors are tightly woven.
The policy recommendations likewise are divided thematically, covering decision-making, culture-led place-shaping, funding and local voice. The recommendations are wide-ranging, with some naturally of greater resonance for Scotland, and for Culture Counts. Some areas of notable alignment with our work include:
Under FUNDING, we welcome recognition of the vital role of arms-length funding decisions, and of the value of place-based programmes such as Scotland’s Culture Collective. The case for longer-term, needs-based and proportionate funding systems are well-made, as is the value of collaborative, rather than competitive funding models. The recognition of freelancers at the heart of the creative workforce - and of the particular challenges and opportunities that brings - is important, and is being driven by Culture Counts via the Scottish Government’s Culture Fair Work Taskforce. The ‘big picture’ consideration of arts funding - encompassing local and national governments, arms-length bodies and private trusts and investment is a useful lens, and one which we hope will inform the forthcoming funding review in Scotland.
Under LOCAL VOICE, we echo the findings that support the greater inclusion of a range of voices in cultural decision-making, which is at the heart of Culture Counts’ remit, as well as that of our members. The need to widen the diversity of these voices is well-made, and will focus much of our own work in the months ahead. The place-based lens strongly supports cross-portfolio working, recognising the close connections between creativity, health, public transport, economic concerns and people’s sense of connections to their place.
Under DECISION-MAKING, we recognise the complex landscape in which culture is celebrated for its contribution to other (economic, health and wellbeing) priorities, whilst also deserving recognition as an end in itself. The recognition of the value of regional collaboration, whilst also noting that cultural initiatives are often excluded from such collaborations, offers much food for thought, particularly in light of conversations on this theme in Dundee, Fife and Tayside, where cultural initiatives have been at the heart of regeneration initiatives. The recognition that the UK lags behind other countries in the development of regional-level working models offers an opportunity for Culture Counts to host international cultural conversations, which will be the focus of a Core Members meeting in early 2025.
Under CULTURE-LED PLACE-SHAPING, we celebrate the recognition of cultural activity at the heart of thinking about the future of our places, and in driving investment. We echo Culture Commons’ call for a focus on the outcomes of such work (rather than simply the outputs), and on acknowledging and supporting places' differential starting points in terms of access to resources and cultural infrastructure. We echo the call for long-term plans for investment in cultural projects if they are to realise long-term impact, and the need for policy to embed cultural provision into plans for new housing developments - to create communities that welcome a diversity of people, and that enable us to live rich, connected, creative lives.
Culture Commons will be releasing more recommendations in due course, and continuing to work on refining this project and guiding implementation. We’d be delighted to hear from Culture Counts members as to areas of resonance for you, areas where your work might support or challenge these findings, and areas you’d like to be more involved in going forwards.