The importance of a local approach has been seen in several successful location-based culture driven redevelopments across the country, including initiatives created as part of both successful and unsuccessful bids for UK City of Culture. Through cultural development significant change can be brought to areas in a number of ways, for example:

• Helping a place, and particularly its young people, to grow more confident, raise aspiration and attainment levels, and create many more opportunities to develop
• Building a society that is more inclusive and can help tackle issues of discrimination, loneliness and social isolation
• Creating a healthier populace and increase the wellbeing of citizens
• Driving economic regeneration and growth
• Creating a better place in which to live and work, embedding sustainable social change as central to the future

The cultural multiplier, the return from focusing attention, encouragement and investment in culture, is so much greater in less affluent regions. It is in such towns and cities that culture is not just ‘nice to have’, it is a fundamental game-changer and becomes a powerful force of regeneration, both culturally and economically.

In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, there is an increased focus on the hyper-local and recognition that local partnerships are likely to be the most effective constructs to rebuild local economies and engage local support.