As we prepare for the first Citizens’ Assembly for Culture in the West of England, we want to ensure that everyone has a clear understanding of the key terms that will shape our discussions. We know that language can be a significant barrier to access in democratic decision-making – so whether you’re taking part in the Assembly, following its progress, or simply interested in how it works, we’re getting you up to date with this glossary that will help you navigate the process.

 

Key Terms Explained

Advisory Panel

A group of up to 12 experts and community representatives responsible for selecting the evidence and experiences presented to the Citizens’ Assembly.

Citizens’ Assembly

A randomly selected group of citizens brought together to learn about, deliberate, and make recommendations on a specific issue. In this case, the focus is on culture and creativity in the West of England.

Cultural Sector

The broad range of work and activities related to arts, heritage, and creativity. This includes areas such as performing arts, music, design, heritage, film, events, museums, galleries, archives, and literature.

Cultural Delivery Plan

An actionable plan developed through the Citizens’ Assembly process that outlines steps to support and enhance culture and creativity across the West of England.

Evidence

Information and experiences presented to Assembly members to help them make informed decisions.

Four Pillars of the West of England Cultural Plan

Key principles or focus areas outlined in the existing regional cultural strategy. These guide the structure of the evidence presented to the Assembly. The four pillars are:

• Cultural and Creative Skills
• Creative Freelancers, Start-Ups, and SMEs
• Placemaking
• Wellbeing

Global Majority Communities

A term used to refer to all ethnic groups except white British and other white groups. This includes people of Asian, African, Latin American descent, mixed heritage, and other ethnic backgrounds.

Immersive Experiences

Interactive or participatory activities, such as workshops or performances, designed to give Assembly members a deeper understanding of cultural topics.

Representation

Ensuring diverse perspectives are included and addressing barriers faced by underrepresented groups to promote inclusion in decision-making.

Unitary Authorities

The four local government areas in the West of England: North Somerset, Bath & North East Somerset, Bristol, and South Gloucestershire. Each has its own council overseeing local services and policies.

West of England

The region comprising the Unitary Authorities of North Somerset, Bath & North East Somerset, Bristol, and South Gloucestershire.

Citizens for Culture

An initiative supporting the development of citizen-led approaches to cultural planning and policy in the West of England. This includes organising the Citizens’ Assembly and overseeing its recommendations.

Design Principles

Guidelines developed by citizens in workshops to shape the structure, processes, and outcomes of the Citizens’ Assembly.

Random Selection Process

A method used to ensure a diverse and representative group of citizens participates in the Assembly, preventing bias in selection.

Access Needs

Adjustments or support required by individuals to enable full participation, such as translation services, alternative formats, or accessibility accommodations.

 

Why does this matter?

This Citizens’ Assembly will help us shape a more inclusive and sustainable cultural landscape for the West of England. By understanding these key terms, we can all engage more effectively in the conversation and contribute to meaningful change together.

Join in with the Citizens for Culture conversation on LinkedIn.

 

Rachael Fagan is an actor and South West Councillor for Equity – the performing arts and entertainment trade union.

In this interview, Rachael shares her thoughts on the challenges of arts funding, and how collaboration can help sustain and strengthen the future of the cultural sector.

 

Tell us a bit about your work in the cultural sector and what drew you to this field. 

I am an actor, deviser, writer and have also been a part time acting lecturer. I have worked using my acting skills on stage, in a prison, on award winning films and TV programmes and performed on the streets of Bristol and at some of its most beloved cultural locations. My work takes me to unexpected places where I am able to have transformative experiences with fellow creatives and audiences. 

I also have a company called Persiflage Productions. Persiflage means bantering talk and my work in the culture sector involves a lot of talking – about the things that really matter. I also currently sit in the South West seat on the National Council for Equity, the performing arts and entertainment trades union because our industry faces many challenges.

I have always been looking for connection and to communicate with my fellow human beings. Live performance has always been key to how I view and experience the world, its dynamic energy is a place I feel most alive. It is a privilege to be able to communicate with others and together explore how we think about and view the world.

 

What do you feel are some of the current challenges within the cultural sector and how would you suggest these could be addressed? 

Arts funding has become a political football, we need to stop this and control the narrative. Arts are for everyone; regardless of your age, race, religion, social class or political perspective.

How do we solve this? 

We need to be clear in who the arts are for – which is everyone. We need to engage in some joined up thinking and do some straight talking. Funding bodies and local council decision makers need to talk to each other and change the top down, overly complicated funding application processes we all struggle with. Current funding criterias are overly verbose, competitive and do not promote a collaborative process between arts organisations and between those organisations and freelancers. If we want the arts to be for everyone then the projects that receive funding need to reflect that wide demographic, and the process of applying for funding needs to change.

Arts funding is seen by some as some kind of handout. 

How do we solve this?

The arts are an economic powerhouse, investment in arts and entertainment jobs and infrastructure pays dividends. The arts perform a multiplier effect on the economy, with research by Arts Council England showing that for every £1 of turnover directly generated by the arts and culture industry, an additional £1.23 worth of turnover is supported in the wider economy.  

We need to say this out loud more often in meetings – the arts are an economic powerhouse. We need to speak to the local councillors who are being asked to place social care funding against funding the arts. Economically as stated above and socially for the local citizens this does not make any sense. A range of research is examining the way in which creative industries and the arts positively impact wellbeing. Human beings since the dawn of time have had a need to be creative and express themselves. Not funding the arts is a regressive act against society itself.

 

How do you think the regional cultural sector could benefit from a Citizens’ Assembly model or other democratic decision-making tools? 

I have high hopes for the Citizens’ Assembly. I believe in people, their ability to bring about positive and meaningful change, but for too long cultural funding decisions have been in the hands of the few and applying for funding has been divisive. By bringing together a regional strategy, led by a democratic decision making process, I believe we can be an example of what you can do when the c word actually happens. Collaboration that is. I think collaboration would mean organisations could work on more projects together, sharing skills and other resources including people. The arts are full of people who have amazing skill sets and who are adaptable, and yet often good practice is not shared across organisations because of current funding practices. More of the project funding money should be spent on making the work and actually paying the creatives. 

 

What are your hopes for the future of Arts and Culture in the West of England? 

I hope that through this process we can become an example of how a collaborative, open, democratic process can bring about meaningful change to the arts and culture offer for a large geographical area. I hope that the arts become something that is experienced frequently by the many, not just the few, and provides a positive impact to their lives. Do I expect getting to that point to be easy? No. But if we want arts and culture to really mean something we have to get stuck into this process. 

Everyone has an opinion about art and rightly so, as it belongs to all of us and is a social record of how people are feeling and the experiences they are seeking to communicate – the connection we are all craving in this crazy modern world. 

I welcome the chance to talk about what art we all want to experience, who gets to make that work, how we treat those artists and how we help them to thrive in our area. At many arts events the freelance workers are often absent – how is that right? A more open democratic and collaborative funding and working process would create a firm platform for future creatives working and living in our area and invites a dialogue between artists and the citizens they seek to engage with.

 

What are your thoughts on the upcoming Citizens’ Assembly for Culture in the West of England? 

I hope for a really open and honest process. Where all voices are heard and uncomfortable truths are acknowledged. It is such a great opportunity to start with a blank page and say – how can we all do better? How do we make the decisions on funding fairly? How do we ensure that arts workers are treated fairly and how do we make art more inclusive for everyone?

 

Anything else you would like to add?

Freelance arts workers are often exploited for their creative skills, treated unfairly and then not paid according to their skills. This is not the wild west. We have laws, contracts and protections for workers. Artists have families and bills to pay like everyone else, why do arts funders not insist that those they give funding to pay the freelancers properly? Many artists are from working class backgrounds who leave their profession as it becomes untenable to have a family or keep a roof over their head. Should the arts just be for the wealthy to explore? 

In 2025, the West of England will launch its first-ever Citizens’ Assembly for Culture, a unique opportunity for citizens to create a region-wide Cultural Delivery Plan. Citizens from across Bristol, Bath & North East Somerset, North Somerset, and South Gloucestershire will come together to explore the question:

“What would culture and creativity look like in the West of England if they were for everyone?”

To ensure the Assembly is built on balanced, inclusive, and engaging evidence, we’re seeking up to 12 Advisory Panel members to help shape the materials and experiences Assembly members will engage with.

We’re looking for people with a range of perspectives, whether through lived experience, cultural expertise, policy knowledge, or community representation. You don’t need to work in the cultural sector to apply – we’re especially keen to hear from people who have often been excluded from cultural decision-making.

 

About the role

As an Advisory Panel member, you’ll:

• Select information and cultural experiences for assembly members to explore, making sure that this evidence is fair, diverse, and accessible
• Include a mix of traditional evidence formats (slides, reports, presentations) and immersive experiences (cultural experiences, workshops, performances) ensuring that evidence is accessible to all participants, considering literacy levels, neurodiversity, and recommending translation where necessary​
• Represent the cultural needs and interests of the four Unitary Authority areas, which are South Gloucestershire, North Somerset, Bristol and Bath & North East Somerset, and structure evidence around the four pillars of the existing West of England Cultural Plan.

 

Panel members will meet online (3-5 times) between April and June 2025.

 

Payment

We’re looking for people who can both undertake the role as part of their current salaried positions, and people who are unsalaried. Freelancers and those without salaried positions will receive a £750 fee.

 

How to apply

If you’re passionate about shaping a citizen-led approach to culture, we’d love to hear from you! Please read a full description of the role here.

Submit your application via this form by 5pm, 26 March 2025 or upload an audio/video application (up to 5 minutes) via the form. If you have access needs, please contact anjali@citizensforculture.info.

 

Read a full description of the role here.

Everyone Here is a new community arts programme based in West Cumbria that champions the belief that creativity belongs to everyone. Through its citizen-led approach, the programme aims to diversify both participation and decision-making in cultural events while building upon existing creative initiatives in the region.

We spoke to Unique Spencer, Director of Access for Everyone Here, to find out a little more about the programme:

 

Tell us a bit about your work in the creative/cultural sector and what drew you to this field:

I trained as an actress but was drawn to how people without an arts background engage with culture. I began working with disabled and neurodiverse actors, which exposed social barriers that didn’t need to exist. This led me to explore how we can give everyone the “keys” to creativity. Now, as Director of Access for Everyone Here in West Cumbria, I lead “Jury for Joy” a citizens’ assembly putting cultural decisions back into the hands of the people.

 

What do you feel are some of the current challenges within the creative and cultural sector and how would you suggest these could be addressed?

I feel some of the current challenges in the sector are:

Who is in leadership and why: Giving people an opportunity to work alongside people who have a seat at the table and let them observe, learn and challenge them in real time can make a difference. For those people who sit at the top to hand the keys over for real change.

Who makes decisions for communities that are underrepresented: You can’t represent a community you know nothing about, you have to let the people lead or you are a dictator you have to keep challenging your ways of working and ask if this serves the people you are trying to lead.

Access to the arts is not accessible: You have to make changes to society and not the person, work from the social model of disability and then you have access.

 

Can you tell us about the Jury for Joy in West Cumbria?

Jury for Joy is our long-term citizens’ jury for West Cumbria about art and creativity.

The jury is made up of a group of people selected by lottery, who broadly represent the entire community. They learn about issues, discuss them with one another, and make decisions about what should happen and how things should change.

We’re inviting people from across West Cumbria to sign up and help make decisions on how money should be spent on creative activity where they live.

Jury for Joy invites all of us to imagine a future where everyone’s voice matters, where creativity thrives in every corner, and where joy is something we can create and enjoy together.

 

How do you think the creative sector could benefit from a citizens’ jury or other democratic decision-making tools?

You create a new audience you make people feel seen and heard. You give the next generation the hope, passion and faith to be a part of culture and creativity. We keep the industry alive and we make it engaging, fun and exciting for all. We can use it as a breeding ground to have hard conversations to let people have ownership of themselves. You bring back humanity to the core of who we are.

 

What are your thoughts on the upcoming Citizens’ Assembly for Culture in the West of England?

If you don’t talk the language of the people that you are trying to attract you will create the same old model of hierarchy. Being brave and believing in Change is the only way we can move forward. Giving the people back the power will make them want to engage. This is a revolution and I’m here for it every step of the way.

 

Anything else you would like to add?

“I am no longer accepting the things I cannot change. I am changing the things I cannot accept.” — Angela Davis.

 

About Unique Spencer

Unique’s work is characterised by a deep commitment to accessibility and creativity. They believe that art should be inclusive, allowing everyone to participate and experience joy trough innovative approaches. Unique’s contributions to the field of creative direction and accessibility have set new standards for inclusivity.

 

Find out more about Everyone Here: https://everyonehere.org/

Callout for photos and short films that reflect the cultural identity of the West of England

As part of the Citizens Assembly for Culture project we are inviting arts & cultural organisations to contribute photographs to be part of the public campaign for the planned 2025 Assembly.

We’re seeking photos and videos that reflect the unique cultural identity of the West of England Combined Authority (WECA) regions—Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset, and South Gloucestershire—highlighting both perceptions and the realities of these areas.

What is Citizens for Culture?
In 2025, Trinity Community Arts, St Pauls Carnival CIC, Citizens in Power and the West of England Combined Authority will collaborate to launch the first regional Citizens’ Assembly for Culture.

This bold new approach to cultural engagement will bring together citizens – people living, working or staying across the West of England – to explore how creative opportunities can be inclusive and accessible for everyone in the region.

What we’d like from you
We are aiming to collate 10 powerful images and short film content that reflect both the perception and reality of the region, with a focus on cultural identity, diversity, and community dynamics. These images and video content will used to create a short film to promote Citizens for Culture. Please see here for an example.

All entries will be collated into an online gallery.

Submission Guidelines
We are particularly interested in images and video that:

• Align with or challenge the key demographic and cultural characteristics of the region.
• Reflect regional cultural identity through the lens of different communities.
• Explore contrasts between how the region is perceived and its reality.

Examples could include:

• Photos of Bristol’s youthful, diverse population and vibrant creative sector, or imagery that challenges these perceptions.
• Images from Bath and North East Somerset that reflect its older demographic and affluence, or perspectives that counter this narrative.
• Visuals from South Gloucestershire showcasing its cultural industry, or alternate views that highlight hidden aspects of the region.

How to submit
Please send your photos that align with these themes to contact@citizensforculture.info. We recommend using WeTransfer if the file is too large to attach to the email. Submissions should be in high resolution (300 DPI minimum) and include a brief description of the image and how it reflects or counters perceptions of the region. Please include any credits.

Help us shape a visual story that captures the complexity of cultural identity in the West of England.

Deadline for submissions: 01 Mar 2025

We look forward to seeing your images and video

We recently attended the Festival of Flourishing Regions 2025 (#FoFR2025).  The Festival aims to promote and celebrate the role that cities and regions play in the economy and prosperity of the country and look at how regions can drive the growth agenda of the government. Emma Harvey, CEO of Trinity Community Arts and a key partner Citizens for Culture, blogged about attending:

“At the heart of this week’s Festival of Flourishing Regions 2025 (#FoFR2025) at the Watershed was a recurring question: Who truly benefits from growth? Economic expansion and large-scale developments continue to bypass existing communities, leaving people clinging desperately to their sense of place, fearful of disruption. Nimby-naysayers, blocking our prosperity.

Bristol City Council leader Tony Dyer began with early reflections – and perhaps a warning – about the risks of growth without stability and prosperity without equity. He highlighted the need to shift toward preventative public services that operate proactively rather than merely reacting to crises. This was echoed by experiences of Stephen Peacock, the leader of the Combined Authority, who highlighted the real pressures of escalating expenditure on temporary accommodation hindering efforts to implement permanent solutions. 

Palie Smart from the University of Bristol captured a key theme: The power of powerful relationships… only when we get together can we tackle complex challenges. But, how do we come together to build a vision for region that flourishes for us all when so many are paralysed by the continual threat of precariousness? As Andy Westwood surmised, people are putting more in than they’re getting out”. Why should any of us care about an empty promise of productivity when wealth accumulates at the top while wages stagnate in the middle and those at the bottom are propped up by a living wage that can’t keep pace with an out of control rental market? Why should  I care who’s in charge if power remains centralised and only deepens the majority’s sense of powerlessness? As Arrested Development’s lyrics go, the word ‘cope’ and the word ‘change’ is directly opposite, not the same. 

If we want real progress, we need to move beyond survival and towards meaningful transformation. 

Iain Gray spoke about the need for innovation and the importance of setting clear priorities and pursuing them ruthlessly and talked fondly of memories of the 2012 Olympics. While many remember this fondly for artistic ceremonies celebrating the best of British culture, I can’t help but think about what that ruthlessness looked like in reality; the permanent loss of century-old  covenanted land, the Manor Gardens allotments. I think about that and wonder, more than a decade on, do people still feel the benefits of that cement walkway in the same way as the communal land it replaced?

This tension between social mobility, productivity and asset-based community development ran through many discussions. Harriet Fear touched on the power of new ideas in old buildings with an example of a startup thriving in a former pigsty. It was a reminder that we overlook the value of what we already have we lose those in unusual corners and crevices where minds connect, imaginations are ignited and ideas are formed.  

From public infrastructure projects, the much lambasted HS2 to regional funding pots and the constant churn of central government infrastructure funding pots locked needlessly to short-term political cycles. That churn of out with the old in with the new. 14 growth strategies in 16 years. Yet here we are, no closer to a solution that works for everyone.

Jim O’Neill places some of that blame at the foot of the merciless 247 news cycle that reduces everything to 15 seconds of infamy. As does former Bristol Mayor Marvin Rees who talked of the toxic trolling limiting our ability to attract and keep people even wanting to work in a political space. 

With so much focus on productivity centred around, aerospace, tech, and defence, what actually makes a city like Bristol ‘sticky’ place people want to call home? It’s all about food and friends and gigs and carnivals and sound systems and heritage, and culture and and and…yet if it wasn’t for Katy Shaw who said, “culture isn’t an add-on—it’s intrinsic to regional growth strategies”, you’d be forgiven for thinking our route to happier healthier lives could be delivered by chips and wings and missile nose cones.

When mulling over our collective lot, we can all be too good at talking about what we don’t have. The poverty of capacity, devolved funding for culture that still remains fragmented, or the challenges in land use, where freehold sites are given away for developments never realised. Using your powers wisely, has never been more important. This tied directly into Trinity’s work with partners to deliver Roots of Resilience, which explores how community buildings can be leveraged by the voluntary sector to safeguard spaces, creating a holistic approach that blends the old with the new. 

If we start from a place of what we do have – our wealth of talent, ideas skills, assets – as investment decisions shift to combined authorities – we can try to ensure that investment isn’t just about top-down economic development but enables communities to shape their own futures. As Nick Pearce spoke of the urgent need to structure deliberative democratic processes as part of these devolved regions – ensuring citizens have a direct say in how their regions evolve – I was bouncing out my seat ready to shout about our work to deliver the first regional Citizens’ Assembly for Culture, in September 2025 – giving people a stake in shaping the future of devolved investment in the creative and cultural industries.

In a fractured system where few understand how regional authorities operate, John Denham noted, rarely do we get a chance to sit down and ask, what do we have in common? Citizens for Culture is an opportunity to do just that – in a region of rural and urban wealth and deprivation how do we build a shared identity, weaving and crafting an authentic narrative to define our place in the world.

This isn’t about growth. It’s about betterment. Creating places where people can hope for more than just to survive. Where economic strategies don’t just serve a privileged few but create lasting, equitable prosperity. 

The Festival of Flourishing Regions made it clear: the power to shape our future exists, but only if we have the courage to grab hold of it.”

Emma Harvey, CEO Trinity Community Arts

#FoFR2025