Cultural Strategy

A Cultural Strategy for Cumbria

What is a cultural strategy anyway and why do we need one? Well, one answer could be that we're producing a cultural strategy because we've been asked to. The government has asked all local authorities to define their visions for developing cultural activities and facilities for local people. So complementary cultural strategies for the north west region, and for the six districts which make up Cumbria, are also being produced. In future each area's cultural strategy will be incorporated into their community strategy, so this makes this expression of our cultural needs and aspirations all the more important.  

Of course, there's much more to it than that. Culture comprises such a broad range of activities, which most of us take part in one way or another (whether it be using libraries, playing football for a local team, going to the theatre, or to a museum or gallery, visiting a tourist attraction, attending an evening class - even taking our children to the park). And of course many Cumbrians are also employed in these areas. So the subject matter affects most of us.   

Here's our vision: 

Cumbria County Council's vision for culture   

Culture plays a crucial role in our lives. It helps us discover more about our surroundings, our history and ourselves; it regenerates communities and brings people together; it contributes to the local economy; it makes our leisure time more enjoyable; and it makes us distinctive - as individuals and as a county. Culture is one of Cumbria's real assets, and we want to create an environment where everyone has the opportunity to take part in a diverse range of cultural activity of the highest quality. 

This strategy explains how we intend to work towards this vision. It sets out what we aim to do, why we think those aims are important, who will be working towards achieving them and when we hope to have successfully reached them. The strategy will be a working document which our county councillors and our officers will refer to when defining our priorities, planning programmes of work, and setting criteria for grant aid. It should help to ensure that - in the myriad field of culture, where each area seems to overlap with another - different departments talk to each other, as well as to other organisations we'll be working with as partners. It will also show the people of Cumbria the direction of our thinking, and give them some expectations.   

So we're not just producing this strategy because we have to. At the very least, I hope it will prove that Cumbria County Council thinks culture matters, and that it's something we need to continue supporting.

For more details, please contact us at the address below.

The Full Cultural Strategy (138Kb PDF)