Citizens for culture: A citizen-led cultural plan for the West of England

Moving beyond traditional consultation, this initiative empowered people with lived experience to co‑create a shared Cultural Plan that reflects community priorities around wellbeing, placemaking, inclusion and economic opportunity. The case study explores how democratic innovation can build trust, legitimacy and public ownership, offering a compelling model for councils seeking more inclusive and participatory approaches to cultural strategy, that is led by and involves the ecosystem of cultural organisation and practitioners in a place.

Citizens for Culture was a region-wide Citizens’ Assembly bringing together 52 randomly selected residents from across the West of England to co-create a Cultural Plan. Over eight days of learning and deliberation, citizens explored how culture could be more accessible, inclusive and community-led. The result is a 13-priority Cultural Plan focused on wellbeing, placemaking, skills and the economy. The process moves beyond consultation toward shared decision-making power, including the establishment of a Citizens’ Panel to guide delivery. The initiative demonstrates how democratic innovation can reshape cultural policy to reflect lived experience and regional diversity.

A recognition that cultural policy is often shaped by institutions rather than citizens, and that many communities feel disconnected from cultural decision-making. The region sought to test whether a Citizens’ Assembly model could create a more inclusive, legitimate and publicly owned Cultural Plan. There was also a desire to align culture with wider regional priorities around wellbeing, skills, inclusion and economic growth.

• Create a citizen-authored Cultural Plan for the region
• Shift from consultation to meaningful shared power
• Increase accessibility and participation in culture
• Embed culture within everyday life, not just venues
• Strengthen connections between communities, creatives and decision-makers.

We commissioned an independent civic lottery to bring together a demographically representative group of citizens and supported them through eight carefully structured learning and deliberation sessions, enriched by expert input. Using a blend of small‑group discussions and plenary consensus‑building, the process enabled participants to explore complex issues, test perspectives and reach shared conclusions. Accessibility was central throughout, with participant payments, travel expenses and caring support provided to remove barriers to involvement. The work was delivered in close partnership with the Combined Authority and four unitary councils, ensuring strong institutional alignment. The final plan was publicly launched and taken on the road through a regional programme of events, helping to build visibility, trust and wider public ownership.

The programme has delivered significant structural and cultural change at a regional level. A publicly launched Cultural Plan now sets a clear strategic direction, defining 13 region-wide priorities alongside 23 place-based cultural aspirations, ensuring both shared ambition and local distinctiveness are recognised.

Early delivery has been strengthened through the establishment of a Citizens for Culture Panel, providing ongoing citizen oversight and embedding participatory governance at the heart of cultural decision-making. This commitment has been backed by £100,000 in dedicated funding to pilot citizen-led cultural initiatives, enabling communities to move from consultation to direct action.

Together, these measures have increased the legitimacy, transparency, and accountability of regional cultural policy, positioning citizens as partners rather than stakeholders alone. The 2026 roadshow phase further reinforced this approach, generating strong cross-sector engagement across culture, local government, education, and health.

Nationally, the programme has attracted growing interest, helping to raise the profile of citizens’ assemblies as a viable and innovative model for cultural policymaking, with learning now being shared beyond the region.

• citizens engage deeply when given time, information and real influence
• trust grows through transparency and fair process
• shared power requires clear structures and defined parameters
• ongoing oversight (not a one-off assembly) is critical to credibility
• delivery requires alignment with existing actors, not parallel systems.

Future phases will strengthen clarity around governance, accountability and measurable success indicators.

• earlier clarity around implementation pathways and delivery partners
• stronger upfront communication about scope and limits of influence
• more defined quantifiable measures of success from the outset
• extended engagement with under-represented communities between sessions.

The project successfully delivered a legitimate, citizen-authored Cultural Plan and established a mechanism for ongoing oversight. Its effectiveness lies not only in the recommendations but in the shift in power dynamics and trust. With institutional backing and allocated funding, the initiative is positioned to continue through the Citizens’ Panel and regional partnerships, subject to sustained political and financial commitment.

Citizens for Culture represents a shift from transactional consultation to deliberative democracy in cultural policy. It demonstrates that citizens can engage with complex economic, governance and equity issues when properly supported.

• invest in robust recruitment to ensure demographic representation
• pay participants and remove barriers to access
• define scope and influence clearly from the start
• build political and officer buy-in before launch
• plan for implementation and oversight structures early
• allow sufficient time for deliberation — depth builds legitimacy.

Cultural Plan and supporting materials