‘The future of cultural devolution in the UK’ is an open policy development programme, led by Culture Commons, that is convening local governments, academia and the arts and culture sector to explore the future of devolution in the UK and best practice for increased local decision making.

With devolution a policy imperative in the UK, the programme developed a suite of policy recommendations for the UK government on how best to structure and shape devolution for culture so that it delivers the best results for people. The aim is to support a more equitable and sustainable flourishing of creative and cultural activities across the UK.

In 2024, the Foundation contributed a grant of £30,000, complementing public funding from Arts Council England and British Council, and other funders including Paul Hamlyn Foundation. Our supported aimed to convene funders and explore international examples of best practice. The Foundation is particularly interested in supporting stronger citizen voices in public policy development – ensuring that people have a say and are represented in local cultural decision making.

Culture Commons conducted a series of Knowledge Exchange sessions and a Steering Group summit to convene partners and collaborators. Each session produced a co-designed Insight Paper which promotes consensus, new ways of working, shared language and relational capacity between sector stakeholders working to support the ‘devolution revolution’. The Foundation participated in these dialogues and recommended partners to join the conversations and diversify the expertise.

Culture Commons published a digital policy tool outlining their findings and recommendations for cultural devolution. The six policy principles and 20 preliminary policy recommendations that emerged from the programme have successfully influenced key regional and national policies. 

In 2026, Culture Commons proposed amendments to UK Government’s flagship legislation on the topic, the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, championing the inclusion of ‘culture’ as a key pillar. In March 2026, their advocacy successfully led to the UK Government adopting Culture Commons’ proposal to include ‘Culture’ in the Bill.

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The programme identified the challenges and opportunities in devolved cultural decision-making, producing policy positions that empower the sector, mitigate geographical inequalities and help foster a more inclusive and co-designed cultural landscape – a priority for the Foundation’s Access to Culture programme.