CVAN’s response to this inquiry sets out how artists help to revitalise public spaces and draws attention to specific areas of good practice across England. Our examples demonstrate that when local government supports and empowers artists, creative projects can thrive and the wider community benefits. 

This submission sets out how artists help to revitalise public spaces and draws attention to specific areas of good practice. These include an example of an artist-led project supporting a local government playground regeneration consultation in the East Midlands, a university-led exhibition space in the North West, a creative, community empowerment project in the South West and arts and physical activity courses supporting wellbeing in Central & North Lancashire and South Cumbria. 

This response demonstrates how artists are taking art out of the gallery and onto the high street, using innovative audio visual and augmented reality technologies. This work redefines the concept of public art and reaches diverse audiences who might not ordinarily visit museums and galleries. Creative projects such as these are helping to support the government’s levelling up aims for 2030, which relate to people’s satisfaction with their town centre and engagement in local culture and community.

Read CVAN’s full response here

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As examples highlighted in this submission demonstrate, when local government supports and empowers artists, creative projects can thrive and the wider community benefits. CVAN England urges the government to do all it can to ensure that artists and artist-led initiatives that do so much to enliven and enrich our lives are supported at a regional and local level.
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Unfortunately, this submission also highlights missed opportunities and short term approaches that mean art projects with the potential to thrive long term are cut short. At the arts and cultural hub, Mansions of the Future in Lincoln, over 80 community groups, many supporting vulnerable individuals, used the building regularly as part of the project’s Takeover Programme between 2018 and 2020. The opportunity to ‘take over’ the building offered communities the use of a fully equipped, free and safe space for the social, cultural or educational activity. However, Mansions of the Future was a time-limited project, supported by Arts Council England’s Ambition for Excellence Funding, with no scope for a long-term future. When the project ended, the space was closed, and the many groups using the building were forced to seek out alternative provisions. It is encouraging to note that Lincolnshire has been identified as a priority place for Arts Council England; however, long term investment beyond 2024 will be essential to the success of the levelling up agenda.