Arts Council England launches consultation to help shape its 2020-30 strategy

Arts Council England has launched a new consultation that will help shape its strategy for the ten-year period beginning in 2020.

The research will build upon existing analysis of a wide range of evidence and conversations with the public and with key stakeholders that resulted in ACE identifying a series of proposed outcomes that it aims to achieve by 2030.

It is now asking for as many people as possible to offer their opinions on whether these are the right things for Arts Council England to focus on, with ACE also asking for contributors to offer suggestions on how they might work together to achieve them.

Simon Mellor, deputy CEO (arts and culture), wrote in a blog post: “What we have set out is neither fixed nor final. This consultation is your opportunity to test and contribute to our thinking. Do these feel like the right outcomes to you? If so, how might we set about achieving them together? And how might the Arts Council and the organisations we will invest in need to change to deliver these outcomes?”

Mellor added that the approach was designed to help the Arts Council rethink the way it delivers its advocacy and development functions, as well as its approach to investment.

He added: “It will involve us working in partnership with a much wider range of individuals and organisations than we do currently. One of the purposes of the consultation is to start the process of identifying potential partners that share our ambitions and want to work with us over the next decade.

“For the new strategy to be able to do that effectively, we need as many people as possible from inside and outside the arts and cultural sector to share their views with us.”

Before taking part, ACE are inviting people to read some information in preparation. ‘Shaping the next ten years‘ illustrates seven proposed outcomes, including:

1. A nation that supports  and celebrates culture and creativity of every kind
2. People from every background benefit from public investment in culture
3. Creative R&D and talent development are flourishing
4. England’s diversity is fully reflected in the organisations we support, and in the culture they produce
5. The creative and cultural lives of all children and young people are recognised and nurtured
6. Cultural organisations are dynamic, focused on the future, and relevant
7. England continues to increase its global reputation for the quality of its creative industries

The new strategy will be published in autumn 2019, alongside a detailed delivery plan for the first 3-4 years of the 2020-30 period.

Arts Council England’s autumn consultation is open until 2 January 2019. For more information visit www.artscouncil.org.uk/nexttenyears

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