In 2025, Trinity Community Arts, St Pauls Carnival CIC, Citizens in Power and the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority will collaborate to launch a regional Citizens’ Assembly for Culture.
This bold new approach to cultural engagement will bring together citizens – people living, working or staying across the West or England – to explore how creative opportunities can be inclusive and accessible for everyone in the region.
Guided by the four pillars of the West of England’s existing cultural plan – skills, the economy, placemaking and well-being – the Assembly will create a series of recommendations that will help to define priorities for regional cultural output; what takes place and where, who is involved and how our regional offer is shaped and defined.
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THE PROJECT SO FAR:
The partnership secured further funding from the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation (UK Branch) and the Paul Hamlyn Foundation for the delivery of Citizens for Culture. Citizens for Culture was announced as part of the delivery plans for West of England Mayoral Combined Authority’s Culture West programme.
The West of England Mayoral Combined Authority agreed to join the partnership and support the research phase. One of the objectives of this phase was to create a series of citizens’ panels with representative groups of citizens from across the region selected by the Sortition Foundation. These citizen panels created the design principles for the Citizens’ Assembly for Culture.
£10,000 of research and development funding was secured from the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation (UK Branch) which enabled the partners to begin the initial research phase. During this period, collaborators from the cultural sector helped explore how a Citizens’ Assembly for Culture could be used to co-create a cultural delivery plan During this phase, it was recommended that the plan should incorporate the wider region.
The project was initiated by St Pauls Carnival CEO, LaToyah McAllister-Jones, and Trinity‘s CEO, Emma Harvey, who, as community leaders, began to think about how people in Bristol – particularly those from under-represented groups – could help to inform cultural plans for the city. The pair began working with David Jubb from Citizens in Power to build democracy into cultural decision-making. programme.
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What’s it about?
The Citizens Assembly for Culture is the UK’s first citizens’ assembly that will develop a regional Cultural Plan for the West of England and put communities in the driving seat of decisions about creative and cultural activities. This event will take place at Barton Hill Micro-campus, Barton Hill, Bristol BS5 0FP
What will I learn?
Information about this democratic consultative process which is open to everyone living in the West of England Mayoral region (Bristol, South Gloucestershire, and Bath and North East Somerset) and ways to take part in it.
What if I want to find out more?
More information about the process can be found on: Citizens for Culture – West of England Combined Authority area — Citizens in Power
Reserve your place here
What’s it about?
The creative and cultural sectors are facing huge challenges including lack of resources, burnout and an uncertain future. So why bring citizens into decision-making? In Autumn 2025 there will be a Citizens’ Assembly in the West of England to create a citizen-led cultural delivery plan for Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire.
What will I learn?
This 90-minute session introduces the Citizens for Culture project, explores how it has developed over the past three-years, and looks at how the Citizens’ Assembly could support the sector. By the end of the session you will have the latest lowdown on the project as well as understanding ways for people and organisations in the creative and cultural sectors to get more involved.
What if I want to find out more?
If you attend this briefing session, there will also be a second session which will be more like a workshop, for those who want to delve deeper into the process of citizen-led decision-making and discuss how these models are designed and developed.
What if I am a freelancer?
If you are working in the creative and cultural sectors but are unsalaried then there is a £25 payment available for attending the session on receipt of an invoice. We acknowledge this will not fully cover people’s time but it is a recognition that coming to these kinds of meetings or workshops represents a real cost to freelancers.
Reserve your place on eventbrite here.
What’s it about?
The creative and cultural sectors are facing huge challenges including lack of resources, burnout and an uncertain future. So why bring citizens into decision-making? In Autumn 2025 there will be a Citizens’ Assembly in the West of England to create a citizen-led cultural delivery plan for Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire.
What will I learn?
This 90-minute session introduces the Citizens for Culture project, explores how it has developed over the past three-years, and looks at how the Citizens’ Assembly could support the sector. By the end of the session you will have the latest lowdown on the project as well as understanding ways for people and organisations in the creative and cultural sectors to get more involved.
What if I want to find out more?
If you attend this briefing session, there will also be a second session which will be more like a workshop, for those who want to delve deeper into the process of citizen-led decision-making and discuss how these models are designed and developed.
What if I am a freelancer?
If you are working in the creative and cultural sectors but are unsalaried then there is a £25 payment available for attending the session on receipt of an invoice. We acknowledge this will not fully cover people’s time but it is a recognition that coming to these kinds of meetings or workshops represents a real cost to freelancers.
Reserve your place on eventbrite here.
1. What is Citizens for Culture?
Citizens for Culture is a groundbreaking initiative that places local people at the heart of cultural decision-making in the West of England. Through the UK’s first Citizens’ Assembly on Culture, a diverse group of residents will come together to shape a Cultural Delivery Plan that reflects the needs, priorities, and ambitions of the region.
The assembly will address the question:
“What would culture and creativity look like in the West of England if they were for everyone?”
The recommendations will help influence funding, policy, and investment in cultural projects across Bath & North East Somerset, Bristol, North Somerset, and South Gloucestershire.
2. Why is this happening?
Culture is central to our communities, yet decisions about funding and priorities are often made without public input. Citizens for Culture ensures that everyone has a voice in shaping the future of creativity in our region, not just those traditionally involved in the arts.
This initiative will:
✔ Ensure fairer access to cultural funding and opportunities
✔ Encourage fresh perspectives and new ideas
✔ Create a citizen-led Cultural Delivery Plan that influences policy
✔ Support economic growth, skills development, and wellbeing through culture
This is part of a wider movement towards citizen-led decision-making, ensuring culture is shaped by the people who experience it.
3. How does it work?
- A Citizens’ Assembly will be convened in Autumn 2025, bringing together 40 people randomly selected from across the region.
- Deliberation: Over several sessions, participants will learn from experts, discuss key issues, and develop recommendations.
- Decision-Making: The group will shape a Cultural Delivery Plan, outlining priorities and actions for the region’s cultural future.
- Implementation: A Citizen Oversight Panel will ensure that the assembly’s recommendations are acted upon.
4. Who is involved?
Citizens for Culture is a partnership between cultural organisations, funders, and local authorities, including:
✔ Bath & North East Somerset, Bristol, North Somerset & South Gloucestershire Councils
✔ West of England Combined Authority
✔ Cultural partners such as Trinity Community Arts & St Pauls Carnival
✔ Funders including Arts Council England, Paul Hamlyn Foundation & Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation
✔ A network of over 100 community and cultural organisations
5. How were people selected for the assembly?
A democratic lottery (sortition process) will ensure a representative mix of participants. This means:
✔ A random selection process that reflects the region’s diversity
✔ Extra emphasis on involving underrepresented communities (e.g., global majority communities, disabled people, rural residents, young people)
✔ Participants will receive support (e.g., expenses, access needs) to ensure everyone can take part
The selection process is independent and fair, ensuring that no single group dominates decision-making.
6. What about the arts organisations—will they be left out?
No. Arts organisations are essential partners in this process. Citizens for Culture is not about replacing expertise—it is about bringing fresh perspectives into decision-making.
Cultural organisations will have multiple roles:
✔ Contributing evidence and expertise to inform the assembly
✔ Helping to implement the recommendations after the assembly
✔ Acting as Assembly Advocates, supporting citizen-led approaches
This is about creating stronger partnerships between citizens, cultural leaders, and policymakers.
7. What impact will the Citizens’ Assembly have?
This is not just a talking shop—it will lead to real action. The assembly’s Cultural Delivery Plan will:
✔ Inform local and regional cultural strategies
✔ Influence funding decisions from major public and private sources
✔ Ensure long-term citizen oversight to track progress
✔ Pilot new projects with a dedicated £100,000 fund
The goal is to create a long-term shift in how cultural policy is made, ensuring citizens remain part of the decision-making process.
8. What if there’s no extra funding for culture—how will this help?
While local authority budgets are under pressure, this initiative helps make better use of existing resources. The assembly will:
✔ Ensure funding is allocated fairly and strategically
✔ Help cultural organisations work smarter, not harder
✔ Encourage investment from new sources
✔ Develop ideas that make culture more sustainable
Rather than competing for the same funding, this is about collaboration and smarter investment.
9. What if people don’t agree with the Citizens’ Assembly’s recommendations?
The assembly’s recommendations will be based on evidence, expert input, and citizen deliberation—not just opinion. The process is designed to be fair and balanced.
Local authorities and cultural organisations have committed to taking the recommendations seriously. The Citizen Oversight Panel will hold them accountable, ensuring that decisions aren’t ignored.
10. How can I get involved?
✔ Sign up to receive updates – Stay informed about the Citizens’ Assembly and its findings.
✔ Contribute evidence – Individuals and organisations will have the chance to submit ideas and research.
✔ Attend public events – There will be community workshops and discussions before and after the assembly.
✔ Become an Assembly Advocate – Support the work of Citizens for Culture and help bring the recommendations to life.
For updates, visit citizensforculture.info or follow us on LinkedIn.
11. Key Dates
- March–August 2025 – Public awareness campaign & engagement
- September–October 2025 – Citizens’ Assembly convenes
- 2026–2029 – Implementation of recommendations & funding alignment
Final Thoughts
Citizens for Culture is about democratising decision-making in the cultural sector, ensuring everyone has a say in shaping the creative future of the West of England.
This is an opportunity to influence how culture is supported, funded, and developed—for everyone, by everyone.
📌 For more information, click here
Open Call for Proposals – Citizens’ Assembly Evidence
We are inviting people from the West of England to submit proposals for evidence to be presented at the Citizens’ Assembly for Culture in Autumn 2025.
We welcome evidence in various forms to ensure the Assembly reflects the diverse voices and needs of local communities. Individuals, artists, and organisations across the region are encouraged to contribute proposals for evidence to help shape the future of culture in the West of England.
This is your opportunity to share your insights, experiences, and creative ideas. If selected, your input will play a key role in creating a cultural plan that truly represents the West of England’s diverse communities.
For more information visit https://citizensforculture.info/ or email anjali@citizensforculture.info
For a glossary of key terms explained in the document, click here.
Deadline: 5pm 3rd July 2025
What is Citizens for Culture?
In 2025, ‘Citizens for Culture’ is bringing together people from across the West of England to explore how creative opportunities can be accessible for everyone in the region. A citizens’ assembly for culture will take place this Autumn 2025 where citizens will develop a Cultural Delivery Plan for the region that will be supported by our cultural sector and unitary authorities.
The Assembly will respond to the question:
‘What would culture and creativity look like in the West of England if they were for everyone?’
Why Submit an Evidence Proposal?
Through a Citizens Assembly, we have a chance to come together for the benefit of culture and creativity in the West of England. By creating a Cultural Delivery Plan led by citizens, we can show how important culture and creativity are and why it matters to the region. Working together, we can help attract much-needed investment and support, with input from people all across the West of England.
Submitting your ideas for evidence gives you a chance to be heard and to help guide the future of culture in the West of England. You can directly influence the Cultural Delivery Plan, and no matter your role, this is a chance to take part in a region-wide conversation that leads to real change. Here’s what’s in it for you:
Freelancers:
Showcase your practice, amplify your lived experience and advocate for the structural support you need to thrive.
Organisations:
Highlight the impact of your work, share models that could be scaled or supported, and demonstrate your role in the regional cultural ecosystem.
Community Members or Groups:
Share stories of local action, advocate for community priorities and ensure underrepresented voices are part of region-wide decision-making.
Start-Ups and Small to Medium Enterprises:
Influence policies that affect creative enterprise and make the case for investment.
Educators:
Contribute to shaping future cultural skills pathways and highlight successful training, outreach or apprenticeship models.
Cultural Leaders and Institutions:
Position your organisation as a sector leader and help align your mission with regional cultural goals that are community-informed.
What Are We Looking For?
We’re inviting proposals for evidence presentations that showcase the richness and diversity of culture across our region. Evidence presentations should be no more than one hour.
We’re especially interested in work that explores the role of culture in people’s lives, communities and the economy. We are grouping evidence under categories from the existing West of England Cultural Plan to ensure that the citizen-led plan can be supported by authorities in the West of England. Key themes include:
- Culture and Community
- How culture brings people together and strengthens communities
- Projects led by local communities
- Tackling inequalities and improving access to cultural opportunities
- Culture and Wellbeing
- How cultural activities support mental and physical health
- Examples of social prescribing, therapeutic programmes or creative projects that improve quality of life
- Lessons learned during and after the pandemic
- Cultural Economy and Workforce
- The impact of culture on the local economy
- Experiences of cultural workers, including freelancers and organisations
- Support for independent artists, start-ups and small to medium enterprises and businesses, for example through funding, networking, and support
- How makers and freelancers access and influence decisions made within the cultural space
- Skills and Opportunities
- Helping people gain the skills needed for creative careers
- Training, apprenticeships
- Focus on inclusion and creating opportunities for people from all backgrounds
- Cultural Infrastructure and Ecosystem
- How the cultural sector is structured, including key players, relationships, and systems
- The challenges of funding, sustainability and resilience in a post-COVID and cost-of-living crisis context
- The challenges and opportunities within the current landscape
- Culture and Place
- How culture shapes the identity of towns, cities and rural areas across the West of England
- Examples of art and culture making places more vibrant, inclusive and liveable
- Heritage spaces and how they hold a legacy of a place and people’s identity and connection to that place
How do I Submit Evidence?
To submit a proposal for evidence, please fill out this form, which will ask you to describe your submission.
We welcome evidence to be presented in the assembly in a range of formats, including:
- Written statements/research/reports that can be presented
- Case studies/ research
- Films/ short videos
- Panel Discussions
- Performances
- Workshops
- Presentations
- Artistic expressions, such as spoken word, visual art, performances etc.
Whatever your preferred medium, we want to hear from you.
How is evidence selected?
Evidence proposals will be put before an independent Advisory Panel. If selected, it will be presented to the citizens in the assembly who will consider it when developing ideas for a Cultural Delivery Plan.
What is the deadline?
Submissions will be accepted until 5pm 3rd July 2025
Accessibility:
If you have any access needs or require assistance with your submission, please contact anjali@citizensforculture.info
How are submissions selected?
The evidence will be selected by an Advisory Panel. Some of the evidence will be presented during the assembly, allowing participants to engage with it through performances, data, case studies, and testimonials.
What happens if my submission is selected?
If your evidence is selected for the assembly, you will be invited to join an assembly day either in-person or online to present your evidence to the citizens in the assembly.
You will be invited to present at one Assembly day, on either a Saturday or a Sunday in September or October 2025. Exact dates and times will be confirmed if your proposal is selected, but you will likely be required for half a day or less.
If you are freelance, unsalaried, or part of a small unfunded organisation, you will be reimbursed for travel (if your presentation is in person), provided lunch on assembly days, and offered a fee of £195 for presenting at the assembly.
If you are submitting evidence on behalf of an organisation with funding, you are invited to present as part of your role and will not be offered a fee.
What happens if my submission is not selected?
Even if your proposal is not selected for the Assembly, it may be included as part of an exhibition of evidence, accessible to the public and all participants throughout the assembly. This ensures that every contribution has the chance to shape the assembly’s final recommendations. You will have the option of whether you want your proposal to be included in a public exhibition.
In 2025, the West of England will host its first Citizens’ Assembly for Culture, a unique opportunity for citizens to create a region-wide Delivery Plan for Culture. We are now seeking three Community Mobilisers who will build relationships with community groups, individuals and organisations across the region to encourage them to take part in the Citizens’ Assembly for Culture and the Citizens for Culture Network.
This role is all about building relationships – you’ll work with local organisations, distribute flyers and digital materials, attend community events, and organise your own Citizens for Culture Activation Event to get people involved.
We are looking for one mobiliser in South Gloucestershire and one from Northeast Somerset!
We are especially keen to hear from people with strong connections to global majority communities, disabled communities, and/or young people.
About the Role:
Contract Type: Freelance
Reports to: Citizens’ Assembly Producer and Communications Manager
Pay: £1056 total fee (£22 per hour) spread across three months, plus a £500 budget for community events.
Additional Support: Travel costs and a meal allowance are covered on event days.
Hours: Part-time, flexible between June 2025 – August 2025.
Start Date: June 2025
Deadline: Rolling until filled
How to Apply:
Submit your application via this form by or upload an audio/video application (up to 5 minutes) via the form. If you have access needs, please contact anjali@citizensforculture.info.
Click here to view the Job Description.
