Culture and Creative Group

Role and purpose

To develop and unite the cultural offer

Background

The Culture and Creative group has developed through the recognition that economic growth must include extensive, high-quality leisure provision for the staff and families of the businesses in the Borough. The Group is run in collaboration with the Swindon Cultural Partnership and works across many of the outcomes of the Local Area Agreement, as well as providing liaison with cultural bodies in the region and at a National level.

Priorities

Established formerly in 2006, the Swindon Cultural Partnership has identified a number of areas where culture plays an important role in Swindon. In response, the Culture and Creative Group is currently developing specific aims and objectives to support both the cultural offer and the needs of local businesses, particularly in regard to changing the external perception of the town. In outline, the Group’s aims includes:

• Championing cultural diversity across all levels of Swindon
• Working with the regeneration partners to ensure cultural infrastructure
• Provision and circulation of information and knowledge sharing
• Identifying and developing positive opportunities for business
• Developing strategic links with other partnerships and regional bodies
• Liaison with local, regional and national media
• Planning for a National Innovation Expo in Swindon in 2010
• Developing workspaces for creative entrepreneurs

Underlying all the Group’s activity is an aim to create a positive cultural identity within Swindon, with the widest possible definition of ‘culture’. While art, drama, music, heritage etc. are clearly important, the Group also supports the many alternative leisure activities that take place throughout the Borough’s many and varied communities.  

Membership

The Group is composed of several layers:

• Patronage – the Group is gradually building up a list of Patrons with Swindon connections, including Lord and Lady Joffe and author Jasper Fforde.
• Board of Directors – the Group takes strategic guidance from the Board of the Swindon Cultural Partnership, which includes the Leader of Swindon Borough Council, the Editor of Swindon Advertiser, as well as representation from the Arts Council and a number of local businesses and organisations.
• Core Culture and Creative Group – champions from business and the community who both inform and implement cultural plans and activity at a tactical level.