Agenda item

This report sets out the progress made on the implementation of the Cultural Strategy adopted by Cabinet in October 2023. 

Val Birchall, Assistant Director, Cultural Services gave a presentation on Cultural Strategy. This update set out the progress made on the implementation of the Cultural Strategy which was adopted by Cabinet in October 2023.

The presentation drew attention to the following:

• The role of the Arts Commission in the development and delivery of the Cultural Strategy.
• A foundation of the Cultural Strategy was to establish a delivery board called a Cultural Compact.  A Cultural Compact is a model promoted by Arts Council England, for a multi-stakeholder anchor network.
• The H&F Compact is called Where Culture Connects and comprises representatives from cultural venues, production companies, community, private sector, public health, education and the creative industries.
• In order to deliver the strategy, a series of related specialist groups were being established by the Compact, as set out below:

1.    Cultural Forum

2.    Destination Management Partnership

3.    Heritage Partnership

4.    Cultural & Creative Education & Skills Partnership

• The next steps:

1.    Three quick-win projects are in development for the next six months - mapping of soft and hard infrastructure for culture; a programme for primary school children, and a scheme to open up access to culture for residents through free admission.

2.    In addition, work towards a Black history museum will continue.

3.    These link directly to the strategy objectives and pick up the priorities of the Forum.

4.    The Compact, including the destination partnership, are working together to develop a public facing programme, including free events and to research feasibility of a collective funding model.

Councillor Adam Peter Lang stated he was pleased with the development of the Cultural Strategy and noted that there were numerous ongoing workstreams. He said it was important to stress the need for employment opportunities and the links these had to the Industrial Strategy.

In relation to the Cultural Forum, Councillor Adam Peter Lang noted this had been launched in October 2024 and asked when the key events were? He commented it was important the Council listened to less prominent groups and also took on board their views (especially young people). In response, Val Birchall agreed it was important to include the views of young people / hidden voices to develop the Strategy and explained that the views of the Youth Council and Youth Voice had been included in the recent BID (for the London Borough of Culture).

Councillor Jackie Borland commented she was encouraged by how ambitious the Cultural Strategy was and asked what the time frame for its implementation was. In response, Val Birchall confirmed that the Strategy was based on a 10-year framework. Some of the actions would be delivered in the short and medium term, but its overall implementation was dependant on funding and the number of partners the Council required.

Councillor Ashok Patel congratulated officers on the work of the Cultural Compact. Commenting on the Heritage Partnerships and Black History Museum, he asked if the aims of the Museum could be extended to cover Asians from 1960’s, as he felt it should also cover Asian history. In response, Val Birchall listed a series of cultural venues and partnerships which had fed into the ongoing heritage work. And commented that in future, the intention was to do themed and focused work with particular groups. It was noted that the Compact was currently considering the scope and composition of the Heritage Partnership.

Councillor Rory Vaughan noted the successful summer and winter events which had taken place on King Street, and he asked how these activities, as well as using green spaces and the river creatively, might contribute to the visitor economy.

In response Val Birchall commented there were two parts to using the green spaces and delivering summer/winter events. One was about residents and the use of green spaces which ran through the strategy, and was linked to accessibility of activities. The second was about events designed to attract visitors. Val explained that the visitor Economy officer was gathering data on visitor behaviour and hotel room availability, and using this to look at the borough hotel capacity and how to draw in further numbers with specific promotional messages and new activities.

Cllr Rory Vaughan asked what the unique selling points of Hammersmith and Fulham were, as well as other areas within the borough, such as Shepherd's Bush. He asked officers to comment on co-production and also Public Health and how the health economy might be involved in culture in future, as there were strong links with Hammersmith Hospital, Charing Cross and other facilities across the borough.

In response, Val Birchall highlighted that Nikki Lang, Director of Public Health sat on the Compact. And one of the aims of the Cultural Compact was to create an environment which had wider benefits to people's mental wellbeing and also their physical well-being. Val Birchall highlighted some exemplary organisations in the borough such as Dance West working with older people, as well as a number of arts and health workstreams currently underway. In relation to co-production, Val Birchall  explained that  a considerable amount of Community Arts was developed in conjunction with the people who were involved, so this brought culture into communities. The Committee noted that, in future, one of the aims was to have more of a neighbourhood focus and engage more with communities to develop community- based projects.

Cllr Ashok Patel offered his congratulations on the ideas of an annual Hammersmith and Fulham award. Turning to the Appendix of the report, he noted that there was a proposal for collaborating with the Sands End Arts and Community Centre (SEACC) to amplify opportunities there which he also supported. He asked about how he could become involved in Sands End meetings in the future.

In response, Val Birchall commented that Nina von der Werth, the Director of SEACC, would be leading conversations about future opportunities and she would be best placed to keep Councillor Patel informed of developments.

Summarising the item, the Chair, Councillor Rory Vaughan said he was encouraged by the progress that was being made. He thought there were lots of great ideas, and the Committee were glad these were being driven forwards. He asked for a further update in due course.

RESOLVED

1. For the Committee as recommended to review and comment on the report.