Culture and library services programmes

Leadership Essentials: Culture 

Cost: there is no cost to attend, accommodation and meals are included

Programme aims:

• to raise support culture portfolio holders to be exceptional leaders of arts and culture in their places in the context of economic pressures
• to support culture portfolio holders to identify ways in which to leverage culture to engage with communities and support work to reduce health and social inequalities and to develop sustainable approaches
• to share a wide range of inspiring case studies presented by councillor peers and external speakers
• to encourage attendees to network, share information, knowledge and expertise
• to ensure that culture portfolio holders are aware of the strategic work of Arts Council England and the opportunities to work more closely with Arts Council England including their area contacts
• to ensure that culture portfolio holders are aware of the key role of councils in arts and culture and the importance of strategically embedding culture to deliver across council agendas
• to encourage innovation around process and practice, for example, data, procurement and programme approaches
• to share good practice, case studies and support around devolution and local government reorganisation.

To book your place email [email protected]

Senior officer leadership online programme – applications for 2026 programme now closed

Date: January to April 2026 - session dates and programme aims listed below

Culture and library services play a vital role in enabling councils to deliver meaningful services with, and for, local communities. These services help to reduce inequalities, develop community engagement and shape the places where people live and work, supporting outcomes in health and wellbeing, adult social care, children’s services, education and skills, income generation, and the development of vibrant local economies.

As councils prepare for devolution and local government reorganisation (LGR), strong and visionary leadership is essential. Leaders must ensure services are future-focused and that staff are empowered with the skills, confidence, and motivation to engage communities and drive forward change.

The Local Government Association (LGA) and Arts Council England are offering 25 fully-funded places for senior leaders for cultural and library services, running between January and April 2026.

Programme aims

The programme aims to support senior managers of culture and libraries services to:

• develop a greater understanding of the role of cultural and library services in the future economic growth of the local area
• develop skills and knowledge about the implications of devolution on cultural policy
• develop skills to lead entrepreneurial thinking within their services and the confidence to apply those skills
• build and strengthen their peer networks, share information, knowledge and expertise. The programme will be attended by both library and culture senior staff supporting a unique opportunity for peer to peer learning across these specialisms.
• develop a vision about how their services can contribute to tackling social challenges in the current financial context. In addition to the themes noted above, these will include sustainable approaches to tackling social health inequalities, equality, diversity and inclusion and climate change
• develop an understanding of change theory and how to apply it
• explore the potential for arts, culture and libraries to work with officer and political stakeholders to deliver across council agendas.

Programme dates

This is an online programme, with a face-to-face introductory session, and you will need to commit to attend all sessions: 

Applications for the 2026 programme have now closed.

We will notify all successful applicants by Wednesday 26^th November. Please hold the dates in your diary until you receive confirmation. 

If you do not initially have a confirmed place, but would still like to be considered, please hold the dates in case we are able to offer a place at a later date.

If you need any information at this time, or you would like to join to waiting list for future programmes, please email [email protected].

The LGA and Arts Council England are offering fully-funded culture and library peer challenges for councils to help inform strategic activity tailored to their local place and communities. Peer challenges are carried out to your specification aimed at improving, not judging, your council.

There are options to apply for a online or face to face peer challenges. 

The peer challenge can cover a range of themes, including:

• heritage initiatives
• tackling health inequalities
• community engagement
• wellbeing
• reducing loneliness and isolation
• income generation
• alternative delivery models
• co-location
• working with partners
• climate change
• contribution to wider strategic outcomes.

Working collaboratively with the council, a team of expert peers will identify key questions that they can investigate with internal and external stakeholders, which, combined with good practice examples from the peer team’s own networks, will inform a set of recommendations. Your council can use these recommendations to help inform strategic activity. It is important to note that the peer team acts as a critical friend – the process is designed to be supportive and constructive.

The LGA will draw upon its pool of officer and member peers to create a peer challenge team with the expertise to help the council to address the key issues facing its library or cultural services. 

The team will spend between 1.5 to 2.5 days, depending on the brief, either onsite or online with the council, meeting councillors, officers and partners, and understanding the council’s work in both theory and practice. 

Following the delivery of the peer challenge, your council will receive a confidential report that sets out the key findings, provides some recommendations on the way forward and practical advice and signposting to help the council on its journey.

To find out more email  [email protected]