Cultural coCultural co--design in design in BirminghamBirmingham

Symon Easton / Ginnie Wollaston

BCC Culture Commissioning Service

Our vision is for Birmingham to beOur vision is for Birmingham to bea continually surprising city wherea continually surprising city wherethe vibrancy and diversity ofthe vibrancy and diversity ofculture inspire the people who culture inspire the people who live, work in and visit the city, andlive, work in and visit the city, andbring economic success andbring economic success andinternational recognition.international recognition.

Key strategic themes:Key strategic themes:

Culture on your DoorstepCulture on your Doorstep

Next GenerationNext Generation

Stronger cultural and creative Stronger cultural and creative industriesindustries

A great international city of the A great international city of the futurefuture

Birmingham’s Cultural Strategy 2010 - 15

Background / Context Background / Context BCC Culture & Visitor EconomyBCC Culture & Visitor Economy

Service restructure in 2010/11 (savings agenda) Service restructure in 2010/11 (savings agenda) –– Changed from Changed from ‘‘ArtsArts’’ to to ‘‘Culture CommissioningCulture Commissioning’’ ServiceService

2012 2012 -- Introduction of new corporate commissioning Introduction of new corporate commissioning process / Grants Management Toolkitprocess / Grants Management Toolkit

2013 moved from 2013 moved from ‘‘Environment & CultureEnvironment & Culture’’ to to ‘‘Development & CultureDevelopment & Culture’’. 2014 changed to . 2014 changed to ‘‘EconomyEconomy’’ Directorate Directorate –– one of three Directorates.one of three Directorates.

‘‘Support to the ArtsSupport to the Arts’’ budget was budget was ££9.4m now 9.4m now ££6.42m in 6.42m in 20142014--15 with further reductions likely from 201515 with further reductions likely from 2015--1616

95% of the service budget activities are commissioned 95% of the service budget activities are commissioned from third parties from third parties -- ££5.95m revenue and 5.95m revenue and ££350k project 350k project funding (including Festivals)funding (including Festivals)

Core ActivityCore Activity

Culture CommissioningCore Business

Connecting Communities (Cultural Pilot)

Family Friendly Kitemark, Young People on Arts

Boards

Manage Film Birmingham Office

and Old Rep Theatre

Core revenue funding

SLA’s for 10 major arts orgs and B’Ham

Museums contract

Gallery 37 Foundation Creative City Partnership –

key driver

Advice, Guidance and Training for local arts organisations. IASN

Group

Public Art (Gateway Group)

Project funding for Birmingham based not-

for-profit arts

organisations. Up to 100 applications p/a for

£350k commissioning pot.

Support delivery of District Arts Plans and

facilitate Local Arts Forum in each District.

Manage Arts Champions and Mobile

Arts scheme

Key partners in the Birmingham Arts

Partnership (BAP) and Local Enterprise

Partnership (GBSLEP).

Culture Commissioning ServiceCulture Commissioning Service

BirminghamBirmingham’’s s PriorityPriority

NeighbourhoodsNeighbourhoods

10 Districts of approx. 10 Districts of approx. 100,000 residents (green 100,000 residents (green boundary)boundary)

31 Priority 31 Priority Neighbourhoods and Neighbourhoods and ClustersClusters

City centre cultural City centre cultural venuesvenues

BCC CommissioningBCC Commissioning

Arts Champion programme Arts Champion programme –– revenue clientsrevenue clients

1 BCC Officer looking after 11 BCC Officer looking after 1--3 3 Districts & 1 lead Officer for overall Districts & 1 lead Officer for overall programmeprogramme

Delivery across all 4 wards in each Delivery across all 4 wards in each DistrictDistrict

Longer term delivery encouraged in Longer term delivery encouraged in 22ndnd & 3& 3rdrd year e.g. year e.g.

Variety of venues e.g. Parks; Variety of venues e.g. Parks; libraries; shopping centres & libraries; shopping centres & community centres used to deliver community centres used to deliver and present work and present work

Profiled events e.g. Local Arts Forum Profiled events e.g. Local Arts Forum Festival eventsFestival events

Culture On Your DoorstepCulture On Your Doorstep Local arts ForaLocal arts Fora

10 Local arts fora created 2011 10 Local arts fora created 2011 –– commissioned 2014/15commissioned 2014/15

Local arts forum established & contracted Local arts forum established & contracted annually with annually with ££4k led by small arts 4k led by small arts organisation /individual arts coorganisation /individual arts co--ordinatorordinator

Audit of venues, contacts of community Audit of venues, contacts of community groups /organisations regularly updatedgroups /organisations regularly updated

4 regular public meetings to bring artists, arts 4 regular public meetings to bring artists, arts organisations and community groups together organisations and community groups together embracing whole Districtembracing whole District

Web and online presence created and Web and online presence created and maintained with local brandingmaintained with local branding

Arts activities funded and delivered in 2Arts activities funded and delivered in 2ndnd & & 33rdrd year with BCC / external fundingyear with BCC / external funding

Arts Festivals and annual events developed Arts Festivals and annual events developed e.g. Art Soak; Arts March (Northfield); ArtSmile e.g. Art Soak; Arts March (Northfield); ArtSmile (Edgbaston); (Edgbaston);

Our Place Our Place Neighbourhood Community Budget PilotsNeighbourhood Community Budget Pilots

Formerly Formerly ‘‘Total PlaceTotal Place’’. Birmingham . Birmingham has four project themes has four project themes –– Families Families with Complex Needs, with Complex Needs, Neighbourhood Working, Neighbourhood Working, Worklessness and, Culture.Worklessness and, Culture.

Birmingham projects located in Birmingham projects located in three different Wards three different Wards -- Shard End, Shard End, Balsall Heath and Castle Vale Balsall Heath and Castle Vale

Exploring Community Budget Exploring Community Budget approach approach –– reflected same themes reflected same themes in each areain each area

Culture Project working group Culture Project working group partners partners –– Local Arts Fora, Arts Local Arts Fora, Arts Champions, local delivery partners Champions, local delivery partners e.g. resident associations, friends e.g. resident associations, friends of parks, local venue, librariesof parks, local venue, libraries

Funded by BCC and ACEFunded by BCC and ACE

Cultural pilot Cultural pilot 95k from ACE/BCC over 2 years95k from ACE/BCC over 2 years

Aims for the Cultural Pilot Aims for the Cultural Pilot

To research, design and pilot new To research, design and pilot new ways of delivering locally based ways of delivering locally based cultural and arts activities using cultural and arts activities using new business models new business models –– using C2 using C2 methodologymethodology

To involve and support local To involve and support local community groups to select a community groups to select a range of cultural activities in line range of cultural activities in line with the agreed priorities for each with the agreed priorities for each areaarea

Pilot a range of arts activities that Pilot a range of arts activities that maximise opportunities for arts maximise opportunities for arts and cultural engagement including and cultural engagement including the brokering of new partnershipsthe brokering of new partnerships

Project PlanProject Plan

ResearchResearch

3 Cultural Co-ordinators to research & consult over 3 months December 2012 - March 2013

Recommendations & plans for cultural pilot activities £20k decided by panel

Delivery Delivery

May 2013 - February 2014

Conference March – 2014

Evaluation

Final report May / June 2014

Positively local Positively local -- C2 a model for community change C2 a model for community change –– John Gillespie with Susanne Hughes, University of BirminghamJohn Gillespie with Susanne Hughes, University of Birmingham

a process of neighbourhood development that supports people in da process of neighbourhood development that supports people in disadvantaged areas to isadvantaged areas to champion their own agendas in partnership with agencieschampion their own agendas in partnership with agencies

7 step process: given to co7 step process: given to co--ordinators for research & implementationordinators for research & implementation

Locate energy for change Locate energy for change (Coalition of the (Coalition of the ‘‘fed up and bravefed up and brave’’ working with the working with the ‘‘unsung heroesunsung heroes’’))

Locate stakeholders Locate stakeholders from key agencies e.g. health, education, police , LAfrom key agencies e.g. health, education, police , LA

Create a vision Create a vision –– raise ambition, release capacityraise ambition, release capacity

Listen to residents Listen to residents & community& community

Formalise the partnership Formalise the partnership –– more residents than agenciesmore residents than agencies

Sustain momentumSustain momentum

Take Action!Take Action!

Review and adaptReview and adapt

3 Community based budget areas 3 Community based budget areas with different needswith different needs

Shard End a Ward of 26,000 , poor cultural Shard End a Ward of 26,000 , poor cultural infrastructure, low participation and challenges with infrastructure, low participation and challenges with families with complex needs and high levels of families with complex needs and high levels of worklessnessworklessness

Castle Vale Castle Vale –– a neighbourhood of 10,000 residents with a neighbourhood of 10,000 residents with 21 years of regeneration but needing new leaders to 21 years of regeneration but needing new leaders to combat isolation and poor healthcombat isolation and poor health

Balsall Heath Balsall Heath –– a neighbourhood of 15,000 residents a neighbourhood of 15,000 residents –– high levels of deprivation and cultural diversity taking high levels of deprivation and cultural diversity taking environmental agenda and neighbourhood planningenvironmental agenda and neighbourhood planning

Cultural CoCultural Co--ordinators / Intermediariesordinators / Intermediaries

Employed 3 x Cultural CoEmployed 3 x Cultural Co-- ordinators to undertake initial ordinators to undertake initial research with residents and research with residents and stakeholdersstakeholders

Report with recommendations Report with recommendations made to BCC panelmade to BCC panel

Pilot activities funded Pilot activities funded -- ££20k per 20k per areaarea

3 x Cultural Co3 x Cultural Co--ordinators ordinators employed to oversee delivery employed to oversee delivery

Some involved in direct project Some involved in direct project deliverydelivery

New and emerging producers and New and emerging producers and artists took project management artists took project management rolesroles

Final reports identified qualitative Final reports identified qualitative & quantitative data& quantitative data

External evaluators appointed in External evaluators appointed in delivery phasedelivery phase

Shard End Shard End -- facts and challengesfacts and challenges

CBB /Shard End focus CBB /Shard End focus families with complex families with complex needs; employment & needs; employment & worklessnessworklessness

26,000 residents 80% majority 26,000 residents 80% majority white low income householdswhite low income households

42% children in poverty42% children in poverty

415 young people 18 415 young people 18 –– 24 24 unemployed (19% higher than unemployed (19% higher than city average 9.5%)city average 9.5%)

Deprivation pattern unchanged & Deprivation pattern unchanged & only 16% felt involved in local only 16% felt involved in local decisions in 2010decisions in 2010

5 Villages 5 Villages –– no central high street no central high street or central venueor central venue

Shard End Shard End –– ProjectsProjects

Projects included

Alice performance in Kingfisher Park with community performers

Griffin Day – restoration

• Drama with fathers & sons in

partnership with Family centre

Commission to Women & Theatre & DiVas to research material for new drama working with women suffering from domestic violence

Balsall Heath Balsall Heath -- facts and challengesfacts and challenges

Local population 60% Asian, 20% Local population 60% Asian, 20% Black and 20% native White Black and 20% native White (15,000 residents)(15,000 residents)

45% under 25 years and 45% under 25 years and Worklessness for adults 26.5% Worklessness for adults 26.5% compared with a city average of compared with a city average of 18.5% 18.5%

JSA claimant rate, at 20% was JSA claimant rate, at 20% was almost double the city averagealmost double the city average

Nearly half the working age Nearly half the working age population have no qualifications population have no qualifications

Carnival has been celebrated for Carnival has been celebrated for over 30 yearsover 30 years

2 parks, Community centre & Old 2 parks, Community centre & Old Print Works Print Works –– hub for individual hub for individual artistsartists

Balsall Heath ProjectsBalsall Heath Projects

Increased Carnival project Increased Carnival project partners and participants partners and participants combining with Britain in Bloomcombining with Britain in Bloom

Increased volunteers and Increased volunteers and community marketingcommunity marketing

Offered four artists opportuntiy to Offered four artists opportuntiy to respond to local initiativesrespond to local initiatives

Increased profile of local venues Increased profile of local venues and managing arts events for and managing arts events for specific communities e.g. specific communities e.g. Somalian and Pakistani Somalian and Pakistani

Castle Vale facts and challenges Castle Vale facts and challenges

10,000 residents aging population 10,000 residents aging population on large residential estateon large residential estate

Regeneration project 21 years ago Regeneration project 21 years ago –– revitalised housing stockrevitalised housing stock

Poor health associated with Poor health associated with lifestyles and high levels of poor lifestyles and high levels of poor mental healthmental health

High levels of unemploymentHigh levels of unemployment

Castle Vale Festival bringing all Castle Vale Festival bringing all agesages together celebrating 21together celebrating 21 years years of regenerationof regeneration

Active Arts run by residents to Active Arts run by residents to develop and deliver arts on the develop and deliver arts on the estateestate

Castle Vale ProjectsCastle Vale Projects

Castle Vale Festival was created Castle Vale Festival was created with 20 x resident Steering Group with 20 x resident Steering Group and a local school to programme 3 and a local school to programme 3 day Festivalday Festival

Opening ceremony led by Opening ceremony led by professional artists working with professional artists working with 300 x intergenerational 300 x intergenerational performersperformers

Young people programmed Young people programmed musical linemusical line--upup

GP arts prescription project to GP arts prescription project to address long term conditionsaddress long term conditions

Summary of outcomes evaluationSummary of outcomes evaluationOutcome 1: Increased levels of local resident participation in aOutcome 1: Increased levels of local resident participation in arts and rts and cultural activitycultural activityThe evidence indicates that the Cultural Pilots have been succesThe evidence indicates that the Cultural Pilots have been successful in introducing sful in introducing arts and cultural activity to people for the first time and thatarts and cultural activity to people for the first time and that participation has participation has increased in each of the three areas, to differing extents e.g. increased in each of the three areas, to differing extents e.g. ••Outdoor eventsOutdoor events••Intergenerational planning and performanceIntergenerational planning and performance••Mixing art with environmental festival (Britain in Bloom)Mixing art with environmental festival (Britain in Bloom)

Outcome 2: Residents involved in coOutcome 2: Residents involved in co--design and production of local arts design and production of local arts and cultural activityand cultural activityThe involvement of residents in the coThe involvement of residents in the co--design and production of activity could be design and production of activity could be considered a challenging outcome to achieve for a programme desiconsidered a challenging outcome to achieve for a programme designed as a gned as a primary intervention to engage nonprimary intervention to engage non--participants in arts and culture e.g. participants in arts and culture e.g. ••Residents coResidents co--produced events (Castle Vale Festival)produced events (Castle Vale Festival)••Resident Associations led and managed project (Griffins)Resident Associations led and managed project (Griffins)••Residents coResidents co--designed artists brief (GP arts prescription project)designed artists brief (GP arts prescription project)••Local artists as residents deliver activity in their neighbourhoLocal artists as residents deliver activity in their neighbourhoodsods

Summary of outcomes evaluationSummary of outcomes evaluationOutcome 3: Local infrastructure for arts and culture strengtheneOutcome 3: Local infrastructure for arts and culture strengthenedd••Local arts fora and local partners worked together to create andLocal arts fora and local partners worked together to create and deliver deliver eventsevents••Residents gained skills, knowledge and experience to manage and Residents gained skills, knowledge and experience to manage and promote promote eventsevents••Arts activities promoted local neighbourhoods to new audiencesArts activities promoted local neighbourhoods to new audiences••Arts organisations worked with new partners from parks, librarieArts organisations worked with new partners from parks, libraries, health s, health and educationand education

Outcome 4: Capacity of local residents to engage in local activiOutcome 4: Capacity of local residents to engage in local activities ties developeddeveloped••Some residents developed skills and confidence in first time engSome residents developed skills and confidence in first time engagementagement••Some residents increased and expanded range of experienceSome residents increased and expanded range of experience••Some specific event management training provided with accreditatSome specific event management training provided with accreditationion••Local residents engaged in decision to commission professional aLocal residents engaged in decision to commission professional artistsrtists

Summary of outcomes evaluationSummary of outcomes evaluationAdditional outcomes:Additional outcomes:••Usefulness of common evaluation methodology and Usefulness of common evaluation methodology and frameworkframework••Vital use of coVital use of co--ordinators with local knowledgeordinators with local knowledge••New crossNew cross--sector partnershipssector partnerships••Increased profile through use of social mediaIncreased profile through use of social media••Activities contributed towards wider health & wellbeing Activities contributed towards wider health & wellbeing agendas and social cohesionagendas and social cohesion••Success of project has led to new investmentSuccess of project has led to new investment

Lessons Learnt / ChallengesLessons Learnt / Challenges

Timescales matter and cannot be underTimescales matter and cannot be under--estimated in areas with low estimated in areas with low levels of participation and engagementlevels of participation and engagement

Non traditional outdoor spaces create challenges e.g. lack of Non traditional outdoor spaces create challenges e.g. lack of resources in parks. Also weather dependent!resources in parks. Also weather dependent!

Expectations of funders and residents needs to be managed e.g. Expectations of funders and residents needs to be managed e.g. decisions to fund certain activitydecisions to fund certain activity

Cultural barriers can be overcome by clustering arts events withCultural barriers can be overcome by clustering arts events with other events e.g. Carnival with Britain in Bloomother events e.g. Carnival with Britain in Bloom

Need to invest in Leadership & creative skills at a local level Need to invest in Leadership & creative skills at a local level to build to build trust and engagementtrust and engagement

Cross sector partnerships take time!Cross sector partnerships take time!

Cultural pilots have Cultural pilots have ……..made a difference and can be sustained..made a difference and can be sustained

Connecting Communities Programme Connecting Communities Programme -- The next phaseThe next phase

Further funding secured from DCLG and ACE (Further funding secured from DCLG and ACE (££40k from each over 40k from each over two years)two years)

Birmingham one of five cities nominated by DCLG Birmingham one of five cities nominated by DCLG

Specific remit from DCLG to support integrationSpecific remit from DCLG to support integration

Programme to be rolled out over the 10 Districts Programme to be rolled out over the 10 Districts -- commissioned commissioned through Local Arts Fora leadsthrough Local Arts Fora leads

Two distinct research and delivery phases to reflect local diffeTwo distinct research and delivery phases to reflect local differencesrences

Decision in July Decision in July –– projects in place until Feb 2015projects in place until Feb 2015

Symposium and showcase March 2015Symposium and showcase March 2015