Inside the Roadshows: building a regional picture

Since the launch of the Citizens’ Cultural Plan, Roadshow conversations have been taking place across the West of England.

By the end of June, citizens from the Assembly will have taken part in 25 Roadshow conversations across the region.

At each Roadshow, we’re using a simple framework called Share – Grow – Build.

It asks three questions:

• What’s already happening that could be shared?

• What has real potential and could grow?

• What doesn’t yet exist, but needs to be built together?

 

Roadshow by Roadshow, these conversations are helping us build a live picture of how the region could respond to the Citizens’ Cultural Plan.

In other words, where energy already exists, where partnerships are emerging, and where citizens may want to focus future attention, investment or challenge.

This month, we’ll be testing the first version of this emerging matrix with artists, organisations and partners at the Culture West Summit, hosted by the Mayoral Combined Authority.

Our aim is to make sure this becomes a practical tool for the next phase of Citizens for Culture which is about turning the Citizens’ Cultural Plan into action.

 

Looking ahead: National Portfolio applicants workshop

As organisations across the region begin thinking about the next Arts Council England National Portfolio round, we wanted to share an opportunity coming up this summer.

On Wednesday 1 July (9:30–11:30am), Citizens for Culture will host an online open session for organisations, freelancers and partnerships who are planning to apply to become NPOs from 2028.

The workshop will be about how the Citizens’ Cultural Plan and the emerging Share – Grow – Build framework might help connect the future plans of NPO applicants with what communities across the West of England are saying matters most.

This is not a workshop about how to apply. Instead, it’s a chance to explore what citizens across the region have said they want culture to become.

We’ve discussed this with Arts Council England, who are keen to see the Citizens’ Cultural Plan inform future planning and delivery across the region.

Please save the date, and we’ll share the full invitation later this month.

Thank you to everyone who has taken part so far and to those continuing to shape what happens next.