Winchester District Cultural Strategy
Winchester District Cultural Strategy 2024-2030
The cultural strategy sets out a shared vision for the cultural development of the Winchester district until 2030. The strategy was developed and will be delivered in partnership and intends to empower organisations, communities and individuals to create their own cultural and creative activity. It documents the district’s cultural offer and its benefits, aims to encourage and facilitate collaborative work, and provides a focus through a range of themes and priorities.
The Cultural Collective is a strategic partnership that brings together the stakeholders with an ability to influence and drive the successful delivery of the Winchester District Cultural Strategy. The collective members provide strategic leadership and direction that enables successful implementation of the cultural strategy. This page uses ‘we’ as the voice of the collective.
Our vision is:
Winchester District’s creative dynamism enriches lives and makes amazing things happen.
Progress update
Below you can see our priorities and themes with a short summary of the actions taken to date. Please refer to the right-hand side of this page for more detailed annual reports. Here you will also find the full strategy, an executive summary and the full evidence base.
Education and Young People
In our journey to enable and support a youth-led cultural movement in Winchester district, we have been consulting with young people to understand what they recognise as culture and what activity they would like to see. To date, we have delivered two youth nights, working with young people to empower them to deliver the activity suggested by them and their peers. Consultation and evaluation will continue, with future events and activities further informed by young people.
Economy and Creative Industries
To support, encourage and grow our creative industries we have delivered a Creative Growth Programme and peer group, which supported over 100 creatives with business skills. We have worked with the RSA to support the Southern Creative Catalyst initiative, encouraging more connection between the industry in the region. We are also developing programmes for Discover Creative Careers Month, enabling young people to understand and engage with creative careers locally. In 2026 we are launching Winchester’s first festival of the creative industries: From Behind Closed Doors.
Events and Festivals
To further our work to champion events and festivals we have continued to run the Festivals in Winchester group with a renewed focus on growth and development. We have hosted workshops on themes such as data gathering, sustainability and fundraising. We have also delivered a pilot programme of support for festivals in need of additional support and developed a new festival of contemporary performance. We have also supported and encouraged other new events and festivals to take place in Winchester district.
Placemaking
We are continuing to promote Winchester as a cultural destination and increasing our presence at regional networks and initiatives. We have developed directories to help inform residents and visitors of the organisations, locations and individuals delivering cultural and creative activity locally. As well as inform event organisers of the venues, suppliers and support available for delivering an event in Winchester district. We are putting the district at the heart of the development work we are progressing and providing support and advice to those working in the sector locally.
Environmental Responsibility
We have been reviewing our practices and policies to ensure we are taking the measures needed to reduce our impact. We have also delivered sessions with the sector to explore these impacts and how we can use the power of arts and culture to explore and inspire climate action.
Inclusion and Diversity
The cultural workforce and programming generally reflect a traditional demographic and we are reviewing hiring and programming practices to bring about change.
Health and Wellbeing
We have been supporting creative wellbeing initiatives such as research and networking to better understand how to articulate the health and wellbeing benefits of cultural and creative participation.