Culture at regional level
SHCSA connects cultural activity with the wider questions of place, communities, skills, growth and investment across Steadfast and Hearth. Its role is to coordinate regional relationships and opportunities where several councils or organisations benefit from working together.
Culture and place
Culture contributes to how places are experienced and understood. Cultural venues, events, heritage and creative activity can support town centres, public spaces, tourism, community identity and regeneration.
The Authority can use that regional perspective when considering place and investment priorities, while the councils and cultural organisations continue to run the local services and programmes for which they are responsible.
Culture and the regional economy
Creative and cultural activity also forms part of the wider economy. SHCSA can connect cultural relationships with growth, skills and investment work where that helps the region understand opportunities, workforce needs or strategic investment choices.
Working with councils and cultural organisations
The constituent councils retain the cultural, heritage, museum, library and community functions assigned to them. Cultural organisations remain responsible for their own venues, collections, programmes and operations.
SHCSA provides the regional forum where those organisations want to coordinate activity or where an Authority decision has a cultural dimension.
Relationship with the Department for Culture, Media and Recreation
The Department for Culture, Media and Recreation retains the central policy responsibilities assigned to it. SHCSA can represent regional priorities and work with DCMR without duplicating the department's policy role.
Investment and partnerships
Where cultural activity forms part of a strategic investment or partnership programme, the public record identifies the objective, participants, funding, decision-making status and delivery responsibilities. That makes clear which organisation is accountable for each part of the programme.
Public involvement and information
Regional cultural proposals can be informed by the communities, audiences and organisations affected by them. Consultations, approved strategies, decisions and reports are published through this website as formal business is completed.