Cumberland

Ahead of local government reorganisation, Allerdale and Copeland Councils commissioned CTConsults and The Intelligence Agency to develop a Cultural Strategy for West Cumbria. As the new Cumberland Council was created, the strategy became the foundation for a shared cultural vision across the new authority.

Rather than focusing on deprivation and historic underinvestment, the strategy adopted a strengths-based approach, building on West Cumbria's cultural assets, creative talent and community leadership. It positioned culture as a catalyst for regeneration, health and wellbeing, environmental sustainability and economic development, creating a shared prospectus for investment across a large and geographically dispersed region.

Arts Council England recognised the strategy's innovative place-based model as an example for other areas to follow. It has since helped coordinate investment through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and other programmes, supported new cultural capital projects across Whitehaven, Egremont, Maryport and Workington, informed Carlisle's UK City of Culture bid, and secured continued investment for the Cumbria Arts & Culture Network.

The strategy also inspired Everyone Here's pioneering Jury for Joy: the UK's first citizens' jury dedicated to arts and culture, giving local people direct responsibility for investing in creative activity across West Cumbria.