Published: 23 Aug 2021
Commissioned by ANGUSalive and the Angus Place Partnership at the outset of the pandemic, this new strategy sets out an exciting forward plan and additional support for Angus’ local culture and heritage sector as it emerges from lockdown.
The strategy has been developed by consultancy Culture Radar with invaluable collaborative input from almost 200 local culture and heritage professionals, freelancers and community groups with support from Angus Council, Creative Scotland and the Angus Community Planning Partnership.
The sheer range and diversity of Angus’ culture and heritage offering was highlighted through the strategy creation process as a considerable strength for the county to shout about, with an astonishing 200+ cultural organisations, community-led groups, home-grown festivals and events identified:
“Angus is rich both in its cultural heritage, language, traditions and collections as well as its natural landscape – you’d be hard pressed to find an area its size with a comparable offer elsewhere in the UK! It is also home to a vibrant community of creative freelancers, culture and heritage professionals and volunteers who undertake incredible work, but not enough people know about what is on offer. They are, and will continue to be, central to bringing Angus’ rich culture and heritage alive for communities and visitors alike. This strategy aims to create more local opportunities for creative projects that will benefit them, and make Angus an even more stimulating place for people to live, work and visit” said Jeanie Scott of Culture Radar.
Angus’ culture and heritage plays an important part in Angus’ tourism and the new strategy sets out how it can not only help re-build local tourism, but also bring new life into its high streets for the benefit of visitors as well as businesses and local communities.
Margo Williamson – Chairperson, Angus Community Planning Partnership said: “One thing we have all experienced through Covid is how important culture and creativity is in our daily lives, and the part it plays in the health and wellbeing of our communities. The strategy gives us a focus to come together to build projects and draw investment into activities that will reach and benefit more people in Angus.”
A priority that emerged through consultation was that more people could be benefitting from and feeling engaged with cultural activities on offer in Angus, and particularly that it should be helping young people build their confidence and options for the future: Kirsty Hunter, Chief Executive at ANGUSalive said “The county’s cultural stakeholders can work together to ensure every young person has the opportunity to engage with culture and participate in a cultural life that is relevant and meaningful for them – it all helps to build confidence and open up thinking about what the future could look like for them here in Angus. We want to be supporting that along with other partners locally.”
A new group is being established (with support from Angus Council and ANGUSalive) to steer delivery of the Angus-wide plan over the next two years. The Angus Culture and Heritage Consortium will be made up of Angus-based organisations, community groups and creative freelancers to ensure all parts of the sector are represented and have a voice in prioritising activities. The Consortium will be hosted and led by ANGUSalive who will also be recruiting a dedicated full-time project manager to oversee the plan’s delivery. It is expected the project manager and Consortium will be in place by the end of the year.
Karen Dick, Head of Place, Partnerships & Communities at Creative Scotland said: “This is an exciting step for Angus. Throughout the life of the Angus Place Partnership and the community’s contribution to the Cultural Strategy, it’s fantastic to witness such widespread support and enthusiasm for the area’s unique culture and heritage.
“As plans develop and we emerge from the pandemic in the months and years ahead, we can be confident that Angus’ culture and heritage will be at the heart of a sustainable, fairer period of recovery and renewal.”
You can read the Angus Cultural Strategy by visiting:
Angus Cultural Strategy Extract
Angus Cultural Strategy is launched 19 August 2021 with an initial two-year action plan to support cultural partnership working and sector development. Delivery of the Strategy’s plan will be overseen by a new Angus Culture & Heritage Consortium, recruitment for which will begin in September 2021 led by ANGUSalive.
For ongoing information about the Consortium and the Strategy contact ANGUSalive via: marketing@angusalive.scot
ANGUSalive is the culture, sport and leisure trust for the county of Angus and has been operating since 1 December 2015. It offers residents and visitors to Angus a wealth of services which inspire healthy, active and creative lifestyle choices through the use of our sports centres, country parks, theatres and venues, museums, galleries, archives and libraries. It has five service areas which form our culture, sport and leisure offering: sport and leisure, countryside adventure, theatres and venues, libraries and museums, galleries and archives. www.angusalive.scot
Angus Place Partnership
The Angus Place Partnership, led by Hospitalfield in partnership with Angus Council, Angus Alive, Brechin 2020, Arbroath 2020, is designed to encourage participation in the arts, support artists and celebrate the rich culture of the region. The partnership, funded by The National Lottery through Creative Scotland, was established to support a three-year programme of activity to strengthen creative development across the region into the future. The Arbroath 2020+1 Festival is a landmark project for the Partnership. https://arbroathfestival.com/festival/2021-festival-programme
Culture Radar
Culture Radar is an independent consultancy working with cultural leaders and organisations, research and policy agencies across the UK to help them achieve their ambitions. It specialises in organisational change, cultural placemaking and developing sustainable and resilient cultural businesses and leaders. www.cultureradar.org
