Solent

The Solent economic zone brings together eight local authorities across Hampshire, each with its own cultural priorities, partnerships and ambitions. The challenge was to create a single regional Cultural Plan that aligned these existing strategies while demonstrating culture's contribution to economic growth.

CTConsults combined extensive stakeholder engagement with robust evidence, drawing on a cross-sector database of more than 8,000 contacts and mapping 457 cultural assets. The resulting interactive dashboard created a lasting evidence base, enabling ongoing analysis, visualisation, reporting and investment case-making beyond the life of the project.

The plan established a shared regional framework focused on cultural entrepreneurship, digital transformation, skills and talent development, cross-sector collaboration, innovation, and cultural tourism. It also laid the foundations for a new place narrative, helping articulate Solent's distinct cultural identity.

As local government reorganisation progresses, the Cultural Plan continues to ensure culture remains key in regional decision-making, partnership working and inward investment. Successes include a new Creative People and Places programme in Gosport, and successful Place Partnership bids for Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight.