Local Government Association

LG Challenge sees ten local government officers take part in a series of real-life challenges around the country.

This section shows examples of how councils and their local cultural sector partners can help bring life back to high streets and town centres, support growth in wider creative industries and levelling up, and contribute to sustainable and inclusive economic growth.

This section showcases how locally funded cultural activity can support greater social connection, address rising levels of ill mental health and support children and young people with their mental wellbeing, support those who have suffered from isolation and more.

This collection explores how councils and their local cultural sector partners use cultural services to improve social mobility in their area, from education to skills and employment.

This section explores the connection between culture and people's satisfaction in place, and showcases examples of how we can move towards a more strategic long-term approach to funding culture at a place-based level.

The LGA are supportive of a revision to current funding in order to simplify and take into account current housing pressures, but have some concerns about the proposals suggested as they are not necessarily reflective of current strains on homelessness services and will have an extremely adverse effect on London in particular.

Following a turbulent two years for the cultural sector, Esther Barrott explores the benefits that local cultural services provide for us all, and the challenges that culture and the arts still face today.