Commission on Culture and Local Government: themes

The title at the top of the image reads ‘Sustainable and Inclusive Economic Recovery: Roundtable 1 of the commission’ and there is a small drawing of Baroness Lola Young, Chair of the commission. Beneath this are three boxes outlining the three case studies discussed at the roundtable, from the City of Bradford, the British Library and Luton Culture Trust. In the centre of the page is a cartoon illustration of buildings on a high street with arrows pointing in towards them to illustrate the value added by culture to the high street, with labels such as ‘poetry’, ‘comedy’ and ‘BIPC network’ on the arrows. At the bottom of the page are text bubbles with small cartoon drawings of people, containing unattributed quotes from the discussion. There is a large text bubble which reads ‘What are the key themes?’ and smaller bubbles below this the themes: inclusivity, the new high street, sustainability, digital, libraries, funding and levelling-up and measures of value. There is a purple banner across the bottom of the illustration with the LGA and RedQuadrant logos and ‘Commission on Culture and Local Government’. The illustration is signed ‘N. Sears, Graphic Scribe 2022’.

Sam Javid:

Culture, I think has proved to be vital over the last few years. It's something that you can't take away. You can't put on lockdown, it's always gonna be there. And whether culture means for you community, whether culture means something your children do the weekends, or whether culture is something you sit at home and work on in your bedroom.

There's a place for it in the community and in the economy. Here, we're in the heart of the hat district, it's full of creative entrepreneurs. There could be business entrepreneurs but they're not they're creatives because they know that that's gonna drive forward their business.

And it's gonna be a values led business for them. It's gonna have art and then, it's gonna have culture. It's gonna have creativity. And it's important that here, they can finesse those ideas and work with us, the Culture Trust, to kind of bring them alive and take them to that next space.

Marie Kirbyshaw:

The Culture Trust operate from four buildings here that used to be hat factories and they now form a cluster

of creative industry, creative workspace, animation space, galleries, cafes and the four buildings connect through a real vibrant program of cultural activities year round.

 

Sinead McNamara:

So arts and culture is a big part of our Luton 2040 vision in our town where we are aiming to have a thriving town centre economy but also a thriving arts and culture and heritage ecology across Luton of which the Culture Trust is a big part of that through the hat district.

Mavi Tzaig:

To be perfectly honest, we couldn't have found a better landlord because what we have here is a collaboration between Luton Culture Trust and ourselves. And it's just been a very helpful relationship to have a supportive

culture focused organisation wanting us to be part of the art scene in this area. It's been fantastic. We've helped train one particular member of our staff into to learn skills that previously he never had in hat making.

Ehioze Freckleton:

Before and I was doing college work in fashion, fashion industry. And basically I was working with Vitality and they referred me to this place, Hat Company. I'm so lucky to be here, actually doing stuff that I love.

Sinead McNamara:

So in Luton, we're really able to demonstrate that strong program, that strong partnership support, right through from our schools, right through to the university. And then they can come into this fantastic space, get the support they need, then hopefully move their company into Hat House. So actually the role of the Hat District and the Culture Trust in terms of growing our creative and cultural ecology is fundamental to success of our town centre.

Jacub Rokita:

Luton Culture Trust has been essential in helping myself and other creatives, helping us to become entrepreneurs not just artists. That has been a massive help. What they have done for example is allowed us contact with local and national organisations, businesses who helped us understand our role and our position and what we need to do, how to establish ourselves as businesses. And that sort of guidance with various specialists was really vital for myself and for other creatives here.

Sam Javid:

Culture is embedded in Luton, it's talked about in various different ways but it now sits as part of several different strategies. It aligns across people's business priorities, whether it's a vegan cafe down the road, it's a jazz club behind me or the Hat Factory Theatre. We all know that culture is key to driving the social interactions between people here and that's gonna drive the economy, whether it's the nighttime economy, it might be people coming out in the day and shopping in the mall, it's important that the culture is there and bringing them to the space.

Narrator (00:01):

Welcome to the introduction to this four minute film from the Commission on Culture and Local Government about the thriving culture in Luton's Hat District and its contribution to the economy of the local area. The Culture Trust Luton operates from fore sites, including the Hat Factory Art Center, and the Hat District. A collection of restored hat factories in Luton's Cultural Quarter, which now form a cluster of creative industry. You will hear from several cultural leaders in Luton. Sam Javid, Creative Director of the Culture Trust, Luton Marie Kirby Haw, Chief Executive Culture Trust, Leeton and Sheen McNamara. Interim Service director of Inclusive Growth Luton Council. You will also hear from a local business owner who has benefited from the project. Ma Sag, Managing director of the Panama Hat Company and her employee, a Hoy Freckleton, a hat blocker, who is filmed making the hats. Yca Barita artist and activist also shares his experience of the Hat District and the support he has received during the interviews.

(01:12):

There are images of the inviting Hat, Factory Art Center, and its wide range of cultural spaces, a trendy cafe and bar, open day and night, buzzing with life. Large white galleries with photography and art exhibitions and visitors enjoying open evenings. There are a mix of studios with people, painting and making entrepreneurs and creatives collaborating communal open plan workspaces, whilst others working independently in comfortable looking zones. With a mix of sofas, desks, and chairs outside, large, colorful graphic murals. Decorate the walls and read. If you can dream it, you must do it. And the future demands your participation. A band play at an outdoor evening concert whilst the smiling audience congregate under fast lighting. And enjoy the varied dishes of the vibrant street food market during the daytime. Luton's Town Center and Hat District is lively and diverse. Sign reads represent same town, New potential. Due to the nature of the film, audio description is kept to a minimum. The audio description was written by Emily Pollett For Vocal Eyes, white Letters read Commission on Culture and Local government. How can local culture contribute to a sustainable and inclusive economic recovery? As the camera tracks Luton's, Busy Town Center, sign reads, Welcome to Luton.

(02:45):

Sam Javid

Sam Javid (02:47):

Culture, I think, has proved to be vital over the last few years. It's something that you can't take away, you can't put on lockdown. It's always gonna be there. And whether culture means for you community, whether culture means something your children do at the weekends, or whether culture is something you sit at home and work on in your bedroom. There's a place for it in the community and in the economy. Here, we're in the heart of the Hat District. It's full of creative entrepreneurs. They could be business entrepreneurs, but they're not. They're creatives cause they know that that's gonna drive forward their business and it's gonna be a values led business for them. It's gonna have art and then it's gonna have culture. It's gonna have creativity. And it's important that here they can finesse those ideas and work with us, the culture trust, to kind of bring them alive and take them to that next space.

Narrator (03:27):

Marie

(03:27):

 the Culture Trust operate from four buildings here that used to be hat factories. And they now form a cluster of creative industry, creative workspace, animation, space, galleries, cafes, and the four buildings connect through a real vibrant program of cultural activities year round.

Sinead McNamara (03:49):

So arts and culture is a big part of our Luton 2040 vision in our town where we are aiming to have a thriving town center economy, but also a thriving arts and culture and heritage ecology across Luton, of which the culture Trust is a big part of that through the Hat District. Mavi,

Mavi Tzaig (04:07):

To be perfectly honest, we couldn't have found a better landlord because what we have here is a collaboration between Luton culture, trust and ourselves. And it's just been a very helpful relationship to have supportive culture, culture focused organization wanting us to be part of the art scene in this area. It's been fantastic. We've helped train one particular member of our staff into learn skills that previously he never had in hat making

Ehoize Freckleton (04:34):

Beforehand. And I was doing CO to our in fashion, fashion industry. And basically I was working with a charity and they referred me to this place in Power, My hat company. I'm so lucky to be here actually doing stuff that I love

Sinead McNamara (04:51):

Chanel. So in Luton, we are really able to demonstrate that strong program, that strong partnership support right through from our schools, right through to the university. And then they can come into this fantastic space, get the support they need, then hopefully move their company into Hat House. So actually, the role of the Hat District and the culture trust in terms of growing our creative and cultural ecology is fundamental to success of Our Town Center.

Jacub Rokita (05:21):

Jacob. Culture Trust has been essential in helping myself and other creatives helping us to become entrepreneurs, not just artists. That has been a massive help. What they have done, for example, is allowed us contact with local and national organizations, businesses who helped us understand our role and our position and what we need to do, how to establish ourselves as businesses. And that sort of guidance with various specialists was really vital for myself and for other creatives. Here,

Sam Javid (06:01):

Sam culture is embedded in Lu It's, it's talked about in various different ways, but it now sits as part of several different strategies. It aligns across people's business priorities. Whether it's a vegan cafe down the road, it's a jazz club behind me or The Hat Factory Theater. We all know that culture is key to driving the social interactions between people here and that's going to drive the economy. Whether it's the nighttime economy, you might be people coming out in the day and shopping in the, It's, it's, it's important that the culture is there. Bring them to the space.

Narrator (06:31):

A graphic mural reads the future, demands your participation. White Letters against a Mosaic background. Read to find out more. Search LGA, Culture Commission hashtag culture commission.

The title at the top of the image reads ‘Health Inequalities: Roundtable 2 of the commission’ and there is a small drawing of Baroness Lola Young, Chair of the commission. Down the left side of the illustration are three summaries of the case studies discussed at the roundtable, from Culture Liverpool, DASH Arts and Manchester Camerata and UK Music. Beneath the title is a rainbow made up of phrases from the discussion and beneath it is a heart which has the text ‘culture should be at the heart of everything we do’. There is a large text bubble on the right side of the illustration which reads ‘What are the key themes?’ and below it are further bubbles outlining the key themes of the discussion: ‘arts at the heart’, quality, partnership, narrative, opportunities, accessibility and finding jobs. These contain smaller speech bubbles with unattributed quotes and phrases from the discussion. Around this are small cartoon illustrations of people, art, instruments and a paintbrush. There is a purple banner across the bottom of the illustration with the LGA and RedQuadrant logos and ‘Commission on Culture and Local Government’. The illustration is signed ‘N. Sears, Graphic Scribe 2022’.  

The libraries is of vital importance to Suffolk's mental health system because it builds community capacity at grassroot level. It allows people to come in and get support in the local community for their mental health needs to stop them going into secondary services. The more organisations like libraries and culture and art organisations can do to engage people, the more capacity we have to support people.

[Bruce] We have a very, very strong and very collaborative relationship with Suffolk County Council. And as an independent body, we're able to do some of the things that they can't do as a statutory body.

In a wider context, we've saved them 30% over the first 10 years of our life in terms of what they pay for libraries but we've actually expanded our services. We run dozens more services. We have longer opening hours and we still have the same wonderful professional staff running all of our sites.

[Jason] People can go into a place they're familiar with, talk to people that they know, be supported by their family members in their local community. This kind of softer face of support really helps people to open up about their mental health needs and to share those stories with our people.

[Bruce] Most of what we do supports wellbeing in the community. And we work with them in all sorts of different ways across the teams they have within the County Council to meet specific needs in the community.

The library is so much more than a place with books. It is a community hub with books in it. Is so much, it is a heartbeat. It's actually looking at the person for who they are and what needs they have.

[Bruce] Some of the research we've done around the needs in the community really clearly signpost the fact that we are saving money across the health system. We've generated £2 million in social value. So there's an absolute wealth of return on investment going on here. And recently we commissioned some research to look at the wellbeing

and clinical value of some of the many regular activities that we provide.

And the outcome of that research was that we were really helping support people's wellbeing in the community. And also, that we were particularly enhancing that sense of community but also providing a certain connectedness that isn't available anywhere else.

We run groups to try and encourage young parents or carers to mix with each other and have a social experience as well as the children interacting with sensory play that that we set up.

Older folks, we run groups for such as Top Time, 55 Alive. We named ourselves 55 Alive. It's just nice to see people, have a chat, catch up with things. And it's nice to know that the libraries are here for that sort of thing.

And it's good also for people's mental health, isn't it?

[Fran] And a lot of those people who perhaps weren't doing anything they've sort of come along to the library through 55 Alive and they now they'll come in.

They might be in three or four times a week.

[Sally] But that's what we are. We are a community hub for inclusivity. It helps people because then they don't necessarily have to seek medical help. So yes, 'cause we help one another.

[Ted] I live on my own, and it's nice to come here 'cause you can talk to somebody about anything, you know, it's just for company.

[Fran] I think just the fact that it is so popular It just shows how much of a need there is. It's nice to talk about it amongst us. And it's helped a lot.

[Sally] I think we do provide a preventative service here in terms of averting people's health becoming to the point where they do need statutory services.

And I think if we can be a part of maintaining somebody's good wellbeing, because we've been able to have a conversation with them, and we've listened to them and they've felt valued, then that is such a vital part of this library service.

Narrator (00:04):

Welcome to the introduction to this film about Suffolk Library's health and Wellbeing program On behalf of Commission on Culture and Local Government, this short film lasts about four minutes and explores the vital importance of the library service to the community, and in particular, the benefits it provides for the mental health of its users. You'll hear from several of the service providers. Jas on Joseph, Change Leader Mental Health, West Suffolk ccg, then Bruce Leak, CEO of Suffolk Libraries, Vicky Mann, Chantry, Library Manager, and lastly, Sally Billon, Library Advisor, Suffolk Libraries. You will also hear from several library users, Fran, Peter, Irene, and Ted, who are all over 60. During the interviews, the camera shows different areas of Chantry library and inviting and colorful community space. The bright pink, green and white walls are lined with clearly labeled shelves and large portable bookshelves. Divide the space into different zones In one zone, several tables are joined together around which sit a group of animated library users, 55 alive, who are all engaged in lively conversation and activities.

(01:23):

They enjoy cups of coffee and cake from the cafe area and fruit from the plentiful baskets arranged on the tables. Another zone creates an open play area for a parent and carer toddler group. Other areas of the library have a community photo board, Rainbow Flag bunting and Welcoming Signs, which read where I belong and where I create, connect, learn, play, discover in a quiet zone. Users work on the laptops and range of technical equipment available and throughout the film, Friendly library staff help a wide range of service users. Outside Chantry Library is a luscious garden area, a bright contemporary style pink mural is painted on the walls with a painted tree that reads, Men can talk two. Elderly men are seated either side of the tree. A speech bubble is painted by each man's mouth. One reads Talk the truth. The other reads Feel the real. The Screen reads, Commission on Culture and Local Government. How can publicly funded culture challenge health inequalities Exacerbated by the Covid 19 pandemic,

Jason Joseph (02:38):

Jason the Lars is a vital important to Suffolk mental health system because it builds community capacity. At grassroot level, It allows people to come in and get support in the local community to their mental health needs to stop them going into secondary services. The more organizations like our libraries and culture and art organizations can do to engage people, the more capacity we have to support people.

Bruce Leeke (02:59):

We have a very, very strong and very collaborative relationship with Suffolk County Council and as an independent body, we're able to do some of the things that they can't do as a statutory body in a wider context. We've saved them 30% over the first 10 years of our life in terms of what they pay for libraries. But we've actually expanded our services. We run dozens more services. We have longer opening hours, and we still have the same wonderful professional staff running all of our sites.

Jason Joseph (03:25):

People can go into a place they're familiar with, talk to people that they know be supported by their family members in their local community. This kind of softer face of support really helps people to open up about the mental health needs and to share those stories with our people.

Bruce Leeke (03:42):

Most of what we do supports wellbeing in the community and we work with them in all sorts of different ways across the teams they have within the county council to meet specific needs in the community.

Vicki Mann (03:52):

The library is so much more than a place with books. It is a community hub with books in. It is not, it's so much, it is a heartbeat.

Jason Joseph (04:02):

It's actually looking at the person for who they are and what needs they have.

Bruce Leeke (04:06):

Some of the research we've done around the needs in the community really clearly signpost the fact that we are saving money across the health system. We've generated 2 million pounds in social value, so there's an absolute wealth of return on investment going on here. And recently we commissioned some research to look at the wellbeing and clinical value of some of the many regular activities that we provide. And the outcome of that research was that we were really helping support people's wellbeing in the community and also that we were particularly enhancing that sense of community, but also providing a certain connectedness that isn't available anywhere else.

(04:06):

Sally Billison (04:44):

We run groups to try and encourage young parents or carers to mix with each other and have a social experience as well as the children interacting with sensory play that we set up. Older folks, we run groups for such as Top Time 55 Alive.

Fran (05:07):

We named ourselves 55 alive. It's just nice to see people have a chat and catch up with things.

Peter (05:17):

And it's nice to know that the libraries are here for that sort of thing. And it's good also for people's mental health, isn't

Fran (05:25):

It? And a lot of those people who perhaps weren't doing anything, they'd sort of come along to the library, 3 55 alive and they now, they'll come in, they might be in three or four times a week.

Sally Billison (05:36):

That's what we are. We are a community hub for inclusivity.

Irene (05:40):

 It helps people because then they don't necessarily have to seek medical help. So yes, cuz we help one another

Ted (05:49):

I live on my own and it is nice to come here and talk to somebody, but anything that might company,

Fran (06:00):

I think just the fact it is so popular, it just shows how much of a need need there is.

Peter (06:06):

It's nice to talk about it amongst us and it's helped a lot.

Sally Billison (06:12):

I think we do provide a preventative service here in terms of averting people's health, becoming to the point where they do need statutory services. Then I think if we can be a part of maintaining somebody's good wellbeing because we've been able to have a conversation with them and we've listened to them and they felt valued, then that is such a vital part of this library service.

Narrator (06:38):

To find out more, search LGA Culture Commission hashtag Culture Commission. This audio description was written by Emily Pollett for vocal eyes.

At the top of the image is a large heading, reading ‘social mobility through cultural education and creative space’ and there is a small drawing of Baroness Lola Young, Chair of the commission. Below this title are text bubbles with different themes from the discussion connected by arrows. The main themes, highlighted in large text bubbles include: the role of libraries, galleries and museums in early years’ engagement; establishing creative talent pathways; local heritage education; engaging employers early; working in place-based partnerships; and offering high quality training and employment. Between these headings there are small speech bubbles with quotes and ideas from the roundtable discussion. On the right-hand side of the image, three case study areas are highlighted: Tyne and Wear Archives and Museums; Hackney Empire; and the Backstage Centre and Kent County Council. There is a purple banner across the bottom of the illustration with the LGA and RedQuadrant logos and reads ‘Commission on Culture and Local Government’. The illustration is signed ‘N. Sears, Graphic Scribe 2022’.

Julie Russell: Wakefield is a diverse District our settlements are shaped really by its industrial past you know by its coal mining its heritage and textiles. Wakefield has great DNA in terms of culture and creativity, one of the real drivers that we're particularly taking our time around is about skills and learning because actually whilst we've had a history in logistics some of those jobs are quite low paid and low skilled and what we want to do is give people the chance to to sort of be ambitious towards different jobs, higher skilled jobs, and the culture and creative sector is one that won't be automated.

The summer school has been our first year at trialling something a bit different, where we've taken arts and creative opportunities into communities, and if you like try to reach out to youngsters who might not have had the opportunity to try something a bit different.

Emily Ryalls: I've been able to be part of the program both as a teaching artist and as a curator for the exhibition downstairs. Both have kind of taught me how important it is to to treat these young people as young artists and to really like see the value in what they're creating and to understand that this is just the start of what could be and what will hopefully and probably be a really promising creative career or just creative pathway.

Josh: We've seen ourselves like schools and stuff we're getting underfunded and arts is becoming less important for some strange reason, but this is as important as any other subject I feel.

Unnamed person: yes exactly for kids creative side and you know.

Josh: It's not something you can easily do at home or everyone can access so stuff like this makes it um inclusive for all.

Emma: It's invaluable especially the times we're living in now, um finding things to do with the children that doesn't cost anything or is quite cheap is vital really to keep communities going, help with mental health, everything. Gets the children inspired as well you know for the future so it's it really is invaluable.

Julie: We have some great employers already locally some are freelance and craft artists but others are organisations that employers a destination or indeed in gaming live events and wider technology and arts so great opportunity for youngsters for the future. Production Park and Backstage have grown from strength to strength in recent years they were a staging company but increasingly have become experts in the live events industry a phenomenal uh cluster really that now sits in the south of our district.

Jim Farmery: We've got about 20 acres of build space for different companies so we've got a whole pile of clients from big global multinationals like Tate, right down to smaller one-man band Freelancers and and kind of everything in between, but we've also got a research and development space that looks at virtual production for TV and film, and we've got build space for big projects so film and TV projects but also arena shows that can test here build here do R&D, ultimately rehearse and then go out on tour and right at the centre of that we've got a campus for our students so our students are right at the middle of this amazing kind of hive of activity going on around live events entertainment tech and and increasingly TV and film as well.

Johnny Wood: So the reason it's so unique is that it's in the heart of a campus, Production Park and we're surrounded by industry professionals touring companies going into places like Studio 1 you've got um explore which is a research and development centre on the park so we get to do opportunities with them working in the virtual production studio like we're here today it's really interesting it's really exciting and there's always stuff happening on the park so it keeps you engaged. I think it's amazing that the council and the local authorities invest in a lot of money into the creative industries because there's lots of opportunities now for people to get involved in the community and we need that after after COVID and things like that we need more people to get out and and experience the amazing things that are happening.

Julie: The relationship as a local authority we have with Backstage is a strategic one in many ways and we've worked together to bring in funding, and to make sure that funding is spent wisely.

Jim: We've ended up with a council that really gets the creative sector we've got really well-educated council team who can talk really you know well about TV production about shows about theatre about art, I mean they're quite often based here, they come and hot desk here which is great they know a lot of our team it's been great.

Lucy: It's been really good I think it was really good it was a massive opportunity that I think I use really well and I recommend everyone who's watching this come it's really good.

Narrator 

Welcome to the introduction to this five minute film about the thriving culture in Wakefi eld, from Commission on Culture and local government. You will hear how the council has invested in arts and creative industries and those who have benefited from it. The film begins with interviews from Julie Russell, director of Arts, Culture and Leisure in Wakefield and Emily Ryalls, Project Coordinator, the Art House, a cultural hub for the local and diverse community outside A welcoming sign reads, "it's all happening round our house" and "Make Art Here" is painted in bright blue capital letters on the exterior facade. Inside the Art House is full of inviting and modern creative spaces, galleries with a large range of exhibitions, sculptures, and video installations. There are many workshop spaces for the community where we see happy children on the Summer S'cool painting, making, sculpting, constructing spinning decks, and rolling and moulding clay.

During these creative activities, they are supported by local artists and family members. We hear from some of the local community who are benefiting from the project, including Josh, Emma, and a child Lucy. We also meet some of Wakefield's local employers who have prospered under the council's, investments in the arts and creative industries, including Jim Farmery, development director at Backstage Academy, experts in the live events industry. Backstage Academy is a cluster of huge metal warehouses set in 20 acres on the edge of Wakefield, housing a student campus surrounded by a hive of companies. Inside we observe a diverse workforce of designers, artists, technicians, producers, and managers. And meet Johnny Wood, a student and employee. He is filmed in the virtual production studio, an enormous black box interior with state-of-the-art technology, lighting rigs, cameras, sets, and rows of seating. Due to the nature of the film, audio description is kept to a minimum. This audio description was written by Emily Pollett for Vocaleyes. Commission on Culture and Local Government. How can local culture create greater economic opportunity and social mobility? Julie Russell, director of Arts, culture and Leisure, Wakefield

Julie Russell

Wakefield is a diverse district. Our settlements are shaped really by its industrial past, you know, by its coal mining, its heritage and textiles. Wakefield has great DNA in terms of culture and creativity. One of the real drivers that we're particularly taking our time in around is about skills and learning, because actually, whilst we've had a history in logistics, some of those jobs are quite low paid and low skilled. And what we want to do is give people the chance to, to sort of be ambitious towards different jobs, higher skilled jobs, and the culture and creative sector is one that won't be automated. The Summer S'cool has been our first year at trialing something a bit different where we've taken arts and creative opportunities into communities and if you like, try to reach out to youngsters who might not have had the opportunity to try something a bit different.

Emily Ryalls

 I've been able to be part of the programme both as a teaching artist and as the curator for the exhibition downstairs. Both have kind of taught me how important it is to, to treat these young people as young artists and to really like, see the value in what they're creating and to, to understand that this is just the start of what could be and what will hopefully and probably be a really promising creative career or just creative pathway.

Josh

We've seen ourself, black schools and stuff. We are getting underfunded and arts is becoming less important for some strange reason, but this is important in any other subject I feel. Yeah, definitely

For kids' creative side and, You know, it's not something you can easily do at home or everyone can access, so stuff like this makes it, um, inclusive at all.

Emma

It's in value, especially the times we're living in now. Um, finding things to do with the children that doesn't cost anything or is, is quite cheap is, is is vital really to keep communities going. Help with mental health, everything, um, gets the children inspired as well, you know, for the future. So it, it's, it really is invaluable.

Julie Russell

Do you, we have some great employers already locally. Some are freelance and craft artists, but others are organizations, uh, that employ as a destination or indeed in gaming, uh, live events and wider technology and arts. So great opportunity for youngsters for the future. Um, production Park and Backstage have grown from strength to strength in recent years. They were a staging company, but increasingly have become experts in the live events industry. A phenomenal, uh, uh, cluster really that now sits in the south of our district.

Jim Farmery

So we've got about 20 acres of build space for, um, different companies. So we've got whole pile of clients from Big Globals, um, multinationals like Tate, right down to smaller one man band freelancers and, and kind of everything in between. But we've also got, um, a research and development space, uh, that looks at virtual production for TV and film. And we've got Build space for big projects. So film and TV projects will also arena shows that can test here, build here, do r and d ultimately rehearse, and then go out on tour. And right at the center of that we've got a campus for our students. So our students are right at the middle of this amazing kind of, um, hive of activity going on around live events, center home and tech and, and increasingly TV and film as well.

Jonny Wood

Donny. So the reason it's so unique is that it's in the heart of a campus, that production park, and we're surrounded by industry professionals, touring companies, going into places like Studio One. You've got, um, explore, which is a research and development center on the park. So we get to do, um, opportunities with them, uh, working in the virtual production studio like we're here today. It's really interesting. It's really exciting and there's always stuff happening on the park, so it keeps you engaged. I think it's amazing that the council and the local authorities investing a lot of money into the creative, um, industries because there's lots of, uh, opportunities now for people to get involved in the community. And we, we need that after, after Covid and things like that. We need more people to get out and, and experience the amazing things that are happening. Julie,

Julie Russell

The relationship as a local authority we have with Backstage is, is a strategic one in many ways and we've worked together to bring in funding and to make sure that funding is spent wisely.

Jim Farmery

We've ended up with a council that really gets the creative sector. We've got really well educated council team who can talk really, you know, well about TV production, about shows, about theater, about art. I mean, they're quite often based here. They come on Hot Desk here, which is great. They know a lot of our team. It's, it's been great. It's been really good.

Julie Russell

I think it was really good. It was a massive opportunity that I think I use really well and I recommend everyone who's watching this come. It's really good

Narrator

To find out more. Search LGA Culture Commission, hashtag Culture Commission.

At the top left of the illustration is a large heading which reads ‘Place’ and a small drawing of Baroness Lola Young, Chair of the commission. Along the top of the illustration the three case study areas are highlighted: Southampton City Council; West of England Combined Authority; and Navigator North and Middlesbrough Council. Below this is an illustration on a town skyline and a series of large text bubbles capturing the main themes of the discussion: pride in place; cultural compacts; the definition of culture; city brands; Levelling Up; the role of local government; and models of partnerships and funding. Surround these are speech bubbles capturing anonymised quotes and ideas from the discussion, and small decorative illustrations. There is a purple banner across the bottom of the illustration which has the LGA and RedQuadrant logos on it and reads ‘Commission on Culture and Local Government’. The illustration is signed ‘N. Sears, Graphic Scribe 2022’. 

Julia Stuckey: The community of Western is very community spirited it's a seaside resort so it has its challenges like every other seaside resort a big part of our place making campaign is to make the culture and arts and the natural environment and the built environment really accessible to all of our residents so the Superwestern place making strategy the culture and arts is a really big part of that.

We have a really strong and growing culture and arts community and they're very very talented that helps to encourage people to to visit because it's something different it also gives our residents a real sense of Pride of the town, it's definitely on the up culturally.

Emma: With online shopping and everything people can end up sort of not coming into town for anything and not meeting their neighbours and not having the opportunity to gather that we're we're used to as humans so I think it's really important to give people some kind of focus and a reason to to come into town and celebrate the place they live.

Michael: We all know how quickly a place can slide into um some serious disrepair and become an uninhabitable and an unsafe place so by keeping a bit of pride in it and keeping uh things going that will attract people um we give the place a great facelift that it constantly needs, and keep the Town Centre. alive.

Cara MacMahon: Historic England were fundamental in supporting us developing Western and it's and its unique Heritage they have funded our Capital programme of work restoring Walker and laying fork and Ale and other buildings in Western and it includes a lot of trying to get people to really understand the beauty of Western and feel part of Western.

Fiona Matthews: 21st century super shrines is a programme funded by Historic England some of the shrines are physical such as the Bandstand behind me and some all about experience and Gathering voices together one of our Shrine projects was with artist Tom marshman he gathered lots of stories of sexuality and different experiences over the years and it was pieced into a brilliant audio Trail.

Matt Flemming: These cultural activities do improve a community these are things that bring communities together especially the LGBT community that can feel unheard and a voice in the community that needs to be heard.

Julia: We're stood in front of a fantastic art exhibition which we're hosting in Western super Mare it's called the sea monster it's part of a national unboxed project which is 10 events and festivals across the UK and we have a recycled North Sea platform and it's a big part of a culture and Arts Festival that we've had in Western this year.

Tom Newman: The Western presents came about it was initiated by the community manager who initiated a series of community think tanks and from those conversations we developed a whole series of events and activities that were led and designed by the local community and that ranged from really small interventions like the things you see behind me the Poetry in the shelters to really large events such as the climate carnival uh overall I think there have been 50 plus events with it's created work for nearly 100 artists there's been a thousand participants in all the different events over the summer and it's really been a brilliant success.

Paul Blakemore: The work that Fiona and Tom from culture Western have done has been extremely important for Western super Mare I think in Western it's a massive part of the local community yeah there's there is an underground scene of people working together and supporting one another and as we're getting pushed out of Bristol as there's there's less places to to afford to buy artists are generally kind of moving towards the coastal towns or places which are way more affordable so you do see more creativity happening.

Narrator

 Welcome to the introduction to this four minute film about the growing culture and arts community in Western Super Mayor. From a commission on culture and local government, you will hear interviews with several cultural leaders from North Somerset Council about how they've invested in arts and creative industries as part of their placemaking strategy. They include Julia Stuckey, super Weston project manager and Karara McMahon, heritage Action Zone Officer. There are also interviews with Tom Newman and Fiona Matthews from Culture Weston. During the interviews, there are images of the bustling high street, the treasured buildings and landmarks of the town, the promenade and seafront, and the thriving street art scene In Western, with its array of colorful murals, we see the variety of the council's cultural projects, including outdoor photography, exhibitions, hand painted silk flags that billow above the shops on the high street and the sea monster and enormous recycled North Sea platform with its gardens in the sky, which spouts water on the seafront.

Below. Construction workers wear high vis turquoise vests that read culture makers whilst they build the artist to Tom Marsh Man's colourful shrine and poetry by local writers adorn the glass shelters. In blue letters we hear from those who have benefited from the investment in arts and culture. A couple of local residents, Emma and Michael, and local artists, Matt Fleming, who is pictured holding a sign that reads Queer Tales of Weston and the photographer Paul Blakemore. We also see some of the events designed and led by the local community, including the Climate Change Carnival with parades of joyous families and people of all ages. Some are in fancy dress, others dance, some wave hand stitched banners. And another group performed synchronized routines with swirling turquoise and orange umbrellas. This is all done in an atmosphere of celebration. Due to the nature of the film, audio description is kept to a minimum. The audio description was written by Emily Poll for Vocal Eyes, commission on Culture and local government images of Western's, busy Town Center. How can local culture support a sense of place and community? Julia Stuckey,

Julia Stuckey

The community of Western is very community spirited. It's a seaside resort, uh, so it has its challenges like every other seaside resort. A big part of our placemaking campaign is to make the culture and arts and the natural environment and the built environment really accessible to all of our residents. So the Super Western placemaking strategy, the culture and arts is a really big part of that. We have a really strong and growing culture and arts community, and they're very, very talented. That helps to encourage people to, to visit because it's something different. It also gives our residents a real sense of pride of the town. Emma, it's definitely on the up culturally with online shopping and everything,

Emma

People can end up sort of not coming into town for anything and not meeting their neighbors and not having the opportunities to gather that we're we're used to as humans. So, uh, I think it's really important to give people some kind of focus and a reason to, to come into town and and celebrate the place they live. Michael,

Michael

We will know how quickly a place can slide into, um, some serious disrepair and, uh, become an uninhabitable and an unsafe place. So by keeping a bit of pride in it and, uh, keeping, uh, things going that'll attract people, um, we, we give the place a, a great facelift that it constantly needs and keep the town center alive.

Cara MacMahon

Historic and we're fundamental in supporting us developing Western and its, and its unique heritage. They have funded our capital program of work, restoring Walker and Laying Fork Canal and other buildings in Western. And it includes a lot of trying to get people to really understand the beauty of Western and feel part of Western

Fiona Matthews

21st Century Super Shrines is a program funded by Historic England. Some of our, the shrines are physical, such as the bandstand behind me, and some are all about experience and gathering voices together. One of our shrine projects was with artist Tom Marshman. He gathered lots of stories of sexuality and different experiences over the years, and it was piece into a brilliant audio trail

Matt Flemming

These cultural, um, activities do improve a community. These are things that bring community together, especially the LGBT community that, uh, can feel unheard and a, a voice, uh, in the community that needs to be heard.

Julia Stuckey

We are stood in front of a fantastic art exhibition, which we are hosting in Western Super Mayor. It's called the Sea Monster. It's part of a national unboxed project, which is 10 events and festivals across the uk. Um, and we have a recycled North Sea platform, and it's a big part of a culture and arts festival that we've had in Western This year. The

Tom Newman

Western events came about. It was initiated by the community manager for Sea Monster who initiated a series of community think tanks. And from those conversations we developed a whole series, um, of events and activities that were led and designed by the local community. Um, and that range from really small interventions like the things you see behind me, the poetry in the shelters, to really large, um, events such as the Climate Carnival. Uh, overall, I think there have been 50 plus events. We've, it's created work for, uh, nearly a hundred artists. There's been a thousand participants in all the different events, uh, over the summer and, um, it's really been a brilliant success. Cool.

Paul Blakemore

The work that Fiona and Tom from Culture Western have done has been extremely important for Western Super Mayor. I think in Western it's a massive part of the local community. Yeah, there's, there, there is an underground scene of people working together and supporting one another, and as we're getting pushed out of Bristol as there's, there's plays less places to, to afford to buy. Buy. Artists are generally kind of moving towards the coastal towns or places which are way more affordable. So you do see more creativity happening.

Narrator

To find out more search LGA Culture Commission, hashtag culture commission.