March 2019

From festivals enlivening derelict town centres to museum exhibitions bringing in entirely new audiences, arts and cultural activities are transforming communities across the UK.  Our Inquiry into the Civic Role of Arts Organisations uncovered many examples of the ways arts and culture are shaping places for the better. We believe there are rich opportunities to build on these successes and take them further. 

We are pleased that local authorities are increasingly recognising the ability of the arts and culture sector to generate positive change in their areas. We partnered with the Local Government Association (LGA) to capture examples of local authority good practice and innovation and share the lessons from their work. The 15 case studies examined in this report reveal the range of benefits that can be achieved when arts and culture are put at the heart of local activity.