Following the recent announcement of North East Lincolnshire as a Priority Place for Arts Council England investment, it has been agreed that the current Cultural Strategy (2017), needs updating to reflect the significant strides that have been made in the borough in relation to culture, arts, heritage and creativity.  Since 2017, significant amounts of government and National Lottery money has been awarded for programmes such as Grimsby Creates, Cultural Development Fund (CDF) programme, Heritage Action Zone, Cleethorpes Townscape Heritage Programme and Towns Fund programme. NEL is also an Area of Focus for the National Lottery Heritage Fund. 

SHAPING THE STRATEGY – YOUR INPUT

The first stage of developing the strategy has been to review existing documents around culture and creativity in NEL, including taking stock of the significant progress made through recent cultural and heritage programmes such as the CDF, Towns Fund etc.

This research has been pulled together into a series of question areas which we are now looking to test by sharing with stakeholders across a broad spectrum of sectors such as – Culture and Heritage, Economic Development & Regeneration, Tourism, Health & Wellbeing; Community & Volunteering; Diversity & Inclusion; Education;  Environment; Digital; Technology and National stakeholders.  This is to gather a diverse range of viewpoints and input to shape the new strategy. 

HOW TO GET INVOLVED

You can have your say by participating in an ONLINE FORUM DISCUSSION VIA ZOOM.

Sessions last up to 90 minutes and run on –

• Tuesday 19th October at 10am – 11.30am
• Wednesday 20th October at 4pm – 5.30pm

Register here – https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/182690340727

OR BY COMPLETING OUR ONLNE QUESTIONNAIRE before Friday 12 November 2021, 5pm

Access the questionnaire here – https://forms.gle/5gzkh46oPUUpyJBH6

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

• October – December 2021 – a Shadow ‘Creativity Board’ to oversee culture and heritage in NEL will be established and will help guide strategy development. There will be an open application process launched shortly to recruit to this board.
• December 2021 – Draft strategy prepared
• January – March 2022 – Formal adoption process followed with NEL
• March 2022 – Strategy launched (date tbc)

CONTACT DETAILS

For more information please contact – 

• Frances Smith frances@beam.uk.net  / 07718 564 376
• or Richard King richard@beam.uk.net 

This work is funded by North East Lincolnshire Council, Arts Council England and the National Lottery Heritage Fund. 

Image credit: Ammie Sykes/ The Clay Mill – taken by Studio Bokehgo