APPG for ‘left behind’ neighbourhoods session on arts and culture-led regeneration

Anna Francis was invited to give a presentation to the APPG for Left Behind Neighbourhoods, sharing research focused on the role of art and culture in regenerating places. Francis focus was to talk about how The Portland Inn Project uses culture as a way to advocate for longer term support and funding for communities, demonstrating how supporting neighbourhoods to make their own decisions can have a multitude of impacts.

At a glance:
Arts and culture are increasingly recognised for their contribution to individual wellbeing,
community and local economic development, and positive social change.
The latest data dive1 commissioned for the APPG shows that ‘left behind’
neighbourhoods (LBNs):
• Have fewer cultural assets compared to the English average; 88% of LBNs have a lower
density of cultural assets and 86.2% have a lower density of leisure assets
• Receive less cultural investment than other equally deprived areas, this includes grant
funding from Arts Council England and the Department for Culture Media and Sport
• Have lower levels of businesses and employment in the creative, arts and entertainment
activities sector than other deprived areas and England
• Show lower participation rates

Speakers
Anna Francis, Associate Professor of Fine Art and Social Practice at Staffordshire University and
co-director of the Portland Inn Project, Stoke-on-Trent
Rebecca Blackman, Director Engagement and Communities, Arts Council England
Nova Marshall, Newington Big Local, Ramsgate.