AUB hosts the launch of The Cultural Enquiry 2019
The Cultural Enquiry for Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole aims to shape a new creative future by looking at the role culture plays in people’s lives and exploring the opportunity for a long-term cultural vision for all our communities.
At the event the following major venues came together to develop a long-term vision for Culture at the heart of the UK’s newest City Region, BCP; The Three Councils (Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch), Arts University Bournemouth and Bournemouth University, the Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership and Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, all supported by Arts Council England.
Leading figures from these organisations today launched the public Cultural Enquiry, which will look into the role that culture plays in people’s lives and the opportunity for a long-term cultural vision at the heart of communities in the new City Region covering Bournemouth, Christchurch, Poole (BCP) unitary authority, which comes into existence on 1 April 2019.
Darren Henley, Chief Executive of Arts Council England stated “Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Councils have an exceptional track record investing in art and culture, which can be seen through the superb range of creative work produced in the region.
“The forthcoming local government reorganisation presents a unique chance for culture to be put at the heart of this coastal region’s strategy and further develop its sense of place. We’re proud to be supporting this long-term vision for the new unitary authority and we look forward to seeing the recommendations made, for the future prosperity of BCP.”
Stuart Bartholomew, former Principal and Vice-Chancellor of Arts University Bournemouth and Chair of the Cultural Enquiry Partnership explained “The new authority of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole has a unique and enviable set of cultural assets which have wide community impact. They not only improve broad social well-being, they are major contributors to the economy. This Cultural Enquiry will develop a longer term vision of the role arts and culture can play in social and economic development as well as contributing to the high levels of ambition we share for a new City Region.”
Tom Fleming, Director of the Tom Fleming Creative Consultancy added “We are very excited to be undertaking this Cultural Enquiry on behalf of the partnership. For the UK’s newest city region this is a unique opportunity to ensure that culture is positioned at the heart of the area’s future success, contributing to improving the quality of life and quality of place. Our engagement process will range from individual interviews to large, open public events. Culture is for everyone and we will ensure that our work captures as broad a spectrum of voices as possible.”
