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:
15,000 randomly selected households across the region received invitations to take part in a unique democratic process. Hundreds of people put themselves forward for the Citizens’ Assembly, providing background information about themselves, and from those 52 people were selected, from all walks of life, to reflect the population of the West of England.
Together, they are now meeting as a Citizens’ Assembly for the West of England to answer the question: “What would culture and creativity look like in the West of England if they were for everyone?” Their discussions will help shape a Cultural Plan to be unveiled in early December 2025. This community-led plan will reflect the hopes, values, and creative vision of the region’s residents, serving as a model for citizen-led cultural policymaking across the UK.
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.
We want to hear from people from every corner of the West of England to better understand individual experiences of culture, what’s working, what’s missing, and what needs to change. These conversations will help inform our Citizens’ Assembly as they explore and answer this vital question: “What would culture and creativity look like in the West of England if they were for everyone?
In our new Citizens for Culture meets blog series, we’re connecting with people from across the region behind the live music and community events that bring the West of England to life. Learning more about how they work, what culture means to them, the communities they work with, and why inclusive cultural spaces matter.
In the first of our series, we spoke with Laura Porter about her inspiring work in North Somerset. Today, we’re meeting Tyree, founder of KickNPlay, whose work blends music, games, and community to create inclusive cultural spaces and who believes that the South West has the potential to be a cultural powerhouse.
Who are you, what is your work, and how did you get into this field?
My name is Tyree, and I’m the entrepreneur behind KickNPlay, an event rooted in culture, connection, and curated experiences. Alongside running KickNPlay, I’ve spent the last two years as a freelance festival support specialist, collaborating with event teams to deliver unforgettable moments, whether coordinating logistics or working on the ground.
How did your brand begin, and what inspired you to start it?
Before KickNPlay, I was part of a nightlife event based in the Midlands. Once I became a father, the travel wasn’t sustainable, and I also felt I was outgrowing the late-night scene. I wanted something that fit my lifestyle, something earlier, more social, and more relaxed.
That’s how the idea of a Sunday early-evening gathering came about: a space where people could eat, play games, hear good music, and connect in the way you might at a house party with friends. It was about creating that nostalgic childlike joy, but for adults.
What got you interested in cultural organising, and what keeps you motivated?
As someone of Jamaican and English heritage, I’ve had both good and bad experiences in social spaces. At times, I was excluded from venues in ways that felt rooted in race. That drove me to create spaces where urban contemporary genres and their audiences could be celebrated without judgment.
What keeps me going is the belief that our culture deserves to be visible and enjoyed in a way that’s welcoming, diverse, and free from stereotypes. I’m also motivated by the long-term dream, building KickNPlay into a festival by 2027.
How do you define “culture,” and how do you see it in your community?
Culture is a feeling, a lifestyle, a sense of belonging. It’s not limited by race, music genre, or identity; it’s about the tribe you create. In Bristol, I see it expressed through art, music, clothing, and creativity. But I also see the need to open doors wider, beyond the same limited networks that often hold power.
What are the biggest barriers to cultural participation in the West of England?
Three things: gatekeeping, closed networks, and lack of opportunity.
What’s next for KickNPlay as a brand?
Developing KickNPlay into its own festival.
What challenges have you faced, and how did you overcome them?
I had no formal training or qualifications in live events, which limited my opportunities. KickNPlay also faced barriers in Bristol venues, so I briefly expanded to Birmingham, but distance made that unsustainable once I had three children.
A turning point came when I joined the Festival & Carnival Lab, a course for people from Black heritage backgrounds run by Global Carnivalz & Continental Drifts. Through that, I worked in senior roles at major independent festivals, including Glastonbury’s Shangri-La. That experience opened doors not only for me, but also for others from my community who I’ve been able to bring into these spaces.
What do you want decision-makers to understand about the cultural needs of your community?
Trust new ideas, avoid stereotypes, and stop gatekeeping. The next generation needs room to grow, especially in Bristol.
What cultural experience has been most meaningful to you, and why?
Seeing my peers from the Festival & Carnival Lab step into senior roles at Glastonbury was powerful. It showed how much talent is out there when opportunities are opened up.
If you could create one cultural experience for your community, what would it be?
A creative space with the same quality and facilities as Bristol’s main venues, but free from the barriers that currently limit new and emerging talent.
Is there anything else you’d like to share?
There’s a strong network growing in Bristol. If we keep building together, we can transform the city into a true cultural hub, the LA of England, where creativity thrives locally without needing to move to London.
Stay tuned for more conversations in our Citizens for Culture meets series, as we continue to hear from the people shaping the cultural life of the West of England.
Sunday 14th September marked the first day of the West of England Citizens’ Assembly which will take place over eight days in September, October and November.
52 citizens from all walks of life came together from across Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire.
They came together to answer the question “What would culture and creativity look like in the West of England if they were for everyone?”
They were supported by a team of independent facilitators (pictured above) and LaToyah McAllister-Jones and Rebekah McCabe as Co-Lead Facilitators.
(Rebekah and LaToyah)
The Mayor of the West of England welcomed citizens and thanked them for taking part in the assembly. In the morning, there were lots of introductions and the group of 52 agreed how they wanted to work together during the assembly.
There was a practical workshop with Play:Disrupt to help citizens explore different aspects of the creative and cultural ecosystem in the region.
(Play:Disrupt workshop)
After lunch, there were three presentations:
- Sarah James, Head of Creative and Cultural Industries for the Mayoral Combined Authority, talking about the cultural ecology in the West of England.
- Sophie Moysey, Senior Relationship Manager at Arts Council England about the funding landscape shaped by the government’s lead arts funder.
- Kathryn Davis, Director Visit West, talking about the visitor economy in the West of England.
(Sarah James, Mayoral Combined Authority)
After each commentator spoke, citizens worked together, in eight groups each with an independent facilitator, to reflect on what they heard. They then asked questions to the commentators to clarify and follow-up on key points that interested them.
The next assembly days will be on the 27th and 28th September when citizens will meet online in their four area groups – Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire.
Citizens will experience a wide range of case studies, stories and evidence, selected by the independent Advisory Panel.
We will share the next report from the Citizens’ Assembly at 8am on Monday 29th September. There will also be a short documentary made about the Citizens’ Assembly created by journalist and filmmaker Neil Maggs.
This year at the Forwards Festival, Citizens for Culture hosted a panel discussion on The Information Stage, presented by Jemma Forte and titled “Citizens for Culture: Obstacles and Opportunities.” This session, hosted on The Information Stage, aimed to explore how cultural initiatives can navigate challenges while seizing opportunities for growth and community engagement.
The panel featured LaToyah McAllister-Jones, our Lead Facilitator at Citizens for Culture, alongside notable industry leaders: Dr. Thom Oliver, a Senior Lecturer in Politics at UWE Bristol; Ruby Sant, an accomplished artist, designer, and maker; and Saad Eddine-Said, the CEO and Artistic Director of the New Art Exchange.
Saad Eddine-Said highlighted the importance of accountability and transparency in building trust, while Ruby Sant spoke about the role of creativity in sparking dialogue across communities and the role culture can play in healing fractures in communities. Dr. Thom Oliver reflected on how citizens’ assemblies can offer a more inclusive alternative to traditional politics.
“I’m interested in how organisations and institutions can share power and collaborate with communities in terms of decision making“ – Saad
“.…a Citizens Assembly for culture can help artists find work and make more community-centred decisions about what is funded in the region“ – Ruby
“Looking at democracy and government and how it transposes and translates into people’s lives through participation and representation. I am particularly interested in the work of Citizens for Culture and how a citizens’ assembly for culture can create new ways of working, foster innovation, and build trust in politics through democratic processes.” – Thom
Key points from the discussion included:
- The innovative role of citizens’ assemblies in engaging individuals who typically do not participate in decision-making processes. These assemblies can serve as a bridge, fostering inclusivity in governance.
- The empowerment of community members through the provision of choices and the necessary tools for self-education, and removing barriers to access information.
- The importance of sustained, grassroots actions in driving real change within communities over time.
A recurring theme was the distinction between debate and deliberation. Unlike the adversarial style of parliamentary debate, citizens’ assemblies prioritise listening, reflection, and collective problem-solving.
At the end of the session, the audience was invited to respond to our two public-facing questions: “What cultural experience meant the most to you and why?” and “If you could create one cultural experience for your community, what would it be?”
The responses revealed a shared desire for connection through cultural activities. Ideas ranged from community meals and street parties to multi-faith celebrations and youth jazz bands. A few highlights included:
- “Utilise community assets to create equal spaces to come together. Make them feel like home from home”
- “Street parties for your road and for kids to play outside with each other, all your neighbours coming together in celebration – free and accessible”
- “Multi-faith celebrations introduced to festivals like ‘light’ at the turn of the year, not mid-summer”
- “A series of community meals with intercultural and intergenerational knowledge sharing”
- “Going to a Steely Dan concert when I was named after one of their songs – full circle”
- “Just in Time 2 – youth jazz band in Bath/Bristol getting young people excited about music”
These reflections highlighted how citizens’ assemblies can strengthen individual voices, making decision-making more accessible and rooted in the lived experiences of the community, while fostering a sense of shared learning from the practices of other regions.
LaToyah shared her insights on the session: “I found it particularly useful to hear about the experience of my fellow panellists who spoke so passionately about the opportunity that citizens’ assemblies might offer in the future, particularly as a way to connect citizens to everyday democracy. It feels like we’re at an all-time low in terms of confidence in politics. We need to find ways to centre citizens’ voices in decision-making while reconnecting people with the issues that matter to them.”
The panel was also a springboard for what comes next, the first Citizens’ Assembly for Culture, which meets for the first time this month to begin discussions around shaping how communities can influence cultural decision-making in our region.
The discussion reminded us that culture isn’t just created on stages or in institutions – it begins in everyday shared spaces, with communities imagining and shaping their own shared cultural experiences.
As Thom concluded, assemblies work best when grounded in strong evidence to ensure everyone can be heard. That’s why we’re using Pol.is to gather opinions that will help to define ‘culture’. Join the conversation here.
