Sefton is one of the lowest ranking places in the UK for investment in local culture.
Work is now being undertaken by Sefton Council to develop a Cultural Strategy, with the ambition of securing more funding from the government and national arts organisations for more funding for local cultural events.
Figures reveal that Sefton sees just £2.32 investment per person per year for culture and is “disproportionately unsuccessful in its applications for funding compared to other areas in the North West”.
Last year, Arts Council England identified Sefton as one of 109 Levelling Up Places for Culture, describing it as an area of ‘High Need and High Opportunity’.
Sadly, it missed out on being assigned status as a ‘Priority Place’.
Sefton Council is now seeking to develop a ‘Cultural Strategy’ as it plans ahead for its Borough Of Culture status in 2025, after its 2020 term saw its ambitious events schedule decimated by the Covid pandemic.
It is asking people to have their say on the strategy through a consultation here: Culture Strategy Consultation – Sefton Council – Citizen Space
The purpose of the Strategy is to:
- Develop a shared vision for culture in Sefton.
- Support development of the local infrastructure for culture and creative engagement.
- Strengthen relationships between Sefton and the wider professional sector for culture and creativity.
- Reveal, celebrate and promote opportunities for cultural and creative participation across the Borough.
- Provide a strategic context in support of stakeholder bids for external funding.
Research undertaken by the council suggests there is a range of cultural venues, artistic practitioners and other cultural stakeholders already active in the borough. The ambition is to develop further the infrastructure for cultural engagement and collaboration.
It is critical to the success of the strategy that Sefton’s communities and cultural stakeholders have had the opportunity to express their views and feel a sense of ownership in the process.
In a report on the Cultural Strategy Sefton Council said: “Despite its wide range of cultural activity, analysis of Cultural Grants Data suggests that Sefton is disproportionately unsuccessful in its applications for funding when compared to other areas in the North West region.
“In February 2022 Arts Council England identified Sefton as one of 109 Levelling Up Places for Culture.
“With a low Average Annual Investment Per Capita (17/18 – 19/20) of £2.32, the borough was described as an area of ‘High Need and High Opportunity’.
“However, Sefton narrowly missed out on being assigned status as a ‘Priority Place’ which would have led to greater levels of strategic support.
Liverpool mural artist Paul Curtis and the huge Red Rum artwork in Southport
“Attendance data from the Audience Agency’s Engagement Area Profile also suggests that Sefton has slightly lower levels of cultural engagement overall when compared to the rest of the North West.
“Sefton’s last Borough of Culture year was scheduled for 2020.
“In 2019 Sefton CVS held consultation activity in preparation for the Borough of Culture but the emerging programme was undermined by the impact of the Covid pandemic.
“The opportunities for creative social interventions between Sefton communities and creative practitioners were largely lost.
“Therefore, there is currently limited qualitative information available from Sefton communities.
“Given the absence of wider information there is a need to consult to ensure a reliable evidence base of stakeholder and public opinion forms the foundation from which any proposals for the Cultural Strategy are developed.
“It is vital that the Strategy responds to identified need and ambition rather than being developed on assumption.
“The delivery of an evidence-based Cultural Strategy will also foster stronger confidence with key funding bodies such as Arts Council England.
“An important phase of the strategy will be to understand the barriers and challenges communities face in engaging with culture, and identify the ways in which these obstacles could be addressed.”
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