HERTFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL
CULTURE AND LIBRARIES PANEL
Friday 18th November 2005
Culture
Agenda
Item No.
2
REVIEW OF ENJOY! A CULTURAL STRATEGY FOR HERTFORDSHIRE
Report of the Director of Children, Schools and Families
Author: Annie Hawkins County Cultural Officer
Tel: 01992 556231
Executive Member: - Robert Ellis
‘Culture is essential to our feeling of well being. It is important for our physical
and mental health, our social integration, community spirit and allows us to both
celebrate and express our identity.’
-Enjoy! a cultural strategy for Hertfordshire 2002-2007
1.
Purpose of the report
To update Members of the impact of Enjoy! A cultural strategy for Hertfordshire and
the review process to evaluate Enjoy!
2. Summary
Enjoy! A cultural strategy for Hertfordshire was published in 2002 and will need to be
reviewed in 2007. This paper sets out the timeframe and the key tasks for the Herts
County Council Cultural Group, over the next four months. The outcomes of this
work will then inform the review and evaluation programme of Enjoy!
The report also identifies key achievements of a few of the countywide cultural
partnerships which have resulted in external funding coming into the county.
3. Conclusions
Members of the Panel are invited to note the contents of the report, and may wish to
consider the added benefits created through the various cultural partnerships that are
in place across the county, these benefits include:
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Producing greater efficiencies through co-ordinated planning
Adding value through sharing experiences and knowledge
Attracting external funding
A stronger voice for Hertfordshire
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4.
Background
4.1 The Department for Culture, Media and Sport advised all Local Authorities that
they needed to develop cultural plans for their area. Enjoy! a cultural strategy for
Hertfordshire was published in 2002 and was developed through the Herts Cultural
Partnership. The Partnership is made up of the County Council, the Districts and
other cultural stakeholders. DCMS now state that culture and sport must be included
in community strategies. Local Authorities are no longer advised to have individual
cultural plans. That aside, the Herts Cultural Partnership believe that it is important to
maintain and review a cultural plan and so, Enjoy! will continue to be the overarching
plan for culture in Hertfordshire. The current plan runs to 2007 so the Cultural
Partnership will be reviewing Enjoy! over the next 18 months.
The six Enjoy! messages, agreed three years ago, are just as relevant today
and continue to be used to support cross-cutting themes in current local cultural,
community and strategic plans. Culture can support the delivery of the Local Area
Agreement and help the Authority achieve Comprehensive Performance
Assessment. The messages are as follows:
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Making Hertfordshire a more prosperous and attractive place to live, work and
visit
Offering children and young people to reach their full potential through access
to learning and information
Encouraging children and young people to access and enjoy cultural and
leisure activities
Enabling all members of the community to have more and easier access to
different cultural and leisure pursuits
Valuing and supporting the diverse range of cultural and leisure activities
enjoyed across the county
Working in partnership with national, regional and local agencies to deliver a
range of cultural and leisure activities effectively
Culture is currently defined by DCMS as the following:
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architecture
the arts
children’s play
the countryside
events
film and media
heritage and archives
libraries,
licensing
museums
sport and recreation
tourism and leisure
Architecture, events and licensing are the new additions.
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5. Countywide Partnerships
Culture is a thriving sector that brings considerable revenue to the local economy and
enhances the quality of life for the residents and workers of Hertfordshire and also for
visitors to the County.
The County Council is making a valuable contribution to this by working in
partnership with all stakeholders to promote, support and develop the cultural
industry in Hertfordshire.
The County Council works in partnership and plays an active role with many
partnerships, including the Herts Association of Cultural Officers, the Hertfordshire
Tourism and Leisure Partnership, Herts Arts Partnership and Herts Sports
Partnership. A more comprehensive list of our countywide partnerships can be found
in Appendix 1. These various partnerships continue to grow and strengthen. This is
largely due to the commitment and enthusiasm of the partners. Many volunteers and
voluntary groups working with local communities are the catalysts for much of the
cultural activity in the county. Enjoy! is a framework that can help these groups
attract funding and support for their work. Cultural activities are a key strand of
community planning and local strategic partnerships and clearly link to the County
Council Challenges. Some examples of partnership activities are included below.
5.1 Herts Tourism and Leisure Partnership
The Herts Tourism and Leisure Partnership is made up of representatives from The
Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce, visitor attractions, accommodation providers,
commercial tourism businesses, the Districts and the County Council, represented by
the County Cultural Officer.
The aim of the group is to actively contribute to the economy of Hertfordshire by
promoting, supporting and developing the industry. Over the last year the
partnership has achieved the following:
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The hosting of six familiarisation visits for travel writers, group tour operators
and travel agents to Hertfordshire
The production of two editions of the Herts Holiday Times, a comic style
journal aimed at 6 to 13 year olds. The comic promotes the visitor attractions
and cultural and leisure activities taking place across the county over the
Easter and summer holidays.
The production of two editions of the Enjoy! Hertfordshire magazine which is
placed in accommodation providers’ bedrooms
The production of the first Stansted Airport accommodation guide
The promotion of Hertfordshire attractions on local radio
The development of Enjoy! themed leaflets
The hugely successful Enjoy! Hertfordshire marquee at the County Show at
Redbourn. Over 6000 visitors came to the marquee over two days.
The organisation of an annual Tourism Forum for Hertfordshire, held at St
Albans Abbey
Attended six travel trade exhibitions overseas and in Britain
Developed the first phase of the standalone Enjoy! Hertfordshire website
These activities are supported and funded through the sponsorship and goodwill of
the commercial businesses in Hertfordshire, the Districts and the County Council.
The East of England Development Agency and the East of England Tourist Board
have also contributed through funding and in kind time.
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5.2 Herts Sports Partnership
The Herts Sports Partnership was set up to bring together sports practitioners and
volunteers across the county to have a unified voice for sport and physical activity.
Over one hundred people have signed up to the partnership and work groups have
been formed to take forward generic issues affecting the delivery of sport in Herts.
Partners include sporting organisations, clubs, coaches and officials, governing
bodies of sport, local authorities including Herts County Council, Sport England,
education and health providers.
The Herts Sports Partnership aims to work together to promote a quality sporting
infrastructure allowing everyone to get involved, stay involved and reach their full
potential in their chosen sport or physical activity. The common goal is the
advancement of sport and physical activity at all levels and for all people in
Hertfordshire. It aims to:
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Act as a voice and raise the profile of sport in and beyond the county
Provide advice and support to its members on common issues
Offer direct services to its members through its core staff team working with
the wider sports network
Be the county link with regional and national agencies
Facilitate a co-ordinated approach to the development of sport
In 2005/6 the Partnership has secured external funding from Sport England and the
Big Lottery in excess of £300,000. www.sportinherts.org.uk
5.3 The Green Heart Partnership
The Green Heart Partnership is a partnership between the County Council, the
District Councils, the Lee Valley Regional Park Authority, The University of
Hertfordshire and the Arts Council. By working in partnership, Green Heart will result
in a budget of in excess of £1 million over three years and will promote the arts within
three environmental themes.
The aim is for Hertfordshire to become the leading county in the UK working in these
particular areas. The themes are:
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Green Issues - the arts will be used to raise awareness of issues such as
waste management, recycling and environmental sustainability
Urban and Rural Renaissance-the arts will be used to enhance both urban
and rural settings, promote quality design and help create a sense of space
and regeneration
Social Space – the arts will be used to promote community safety, youth
participation, home zones and cultural tourism.
The County Arts Development Officer is the county council’s lead officer for this
project and is also the administrator of the Herts Arts Partnership, which is a key
player in taking this project forward.
Andrea Stark, Executive Director, Arts Council England, East said: "Through the
Green Heart Partnership, Arts Council England East, Hertfordshire's local authorities
and Lee Valley Regional Park Authority are driving forward an innovative approach to
arts-led regeneration in Hertfordshire that aims to involve the arts right at the start of
the planning process. Green Heart is a forward looking partnership that will help to
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create vibrant communities that have a greater sense of local pride and quality of
life."
The Green Heart Partnership has just completed the first of a three-year programme
aimed at fostering collaboration between the arts sector and local government and
encouraging innovative new approaches to environmental planning and capital
projects across Hertfordshire – with a commitment to the sustainable development of
its communities as one of its core priorities.
Central to the success of the Green Heart Partnership is the establishment of cross
departmental ‘Green Heart’ teams within local councils. These can include officers
from environment, planning, waste, energy, regeneration and arts who are brought
together, with the understanding that ‘individuals’ working together can make change
happen. The teams explore creative solutions to the everyday issues that they
individually face within the context of capital development. The teams include or are
supported by Senior Officers including Directors.
Artists are introduced into the teams from the start:
“One very significant innovation has been the introduction of a professional artist as
an integral part of the project team right from the outset. This has helped us to
develop a more holistic approach: for example, looking at how the physical
landscape could act as play equipment simply through how it is designed, or
encouraging biodiversity by taking proper account of the animals and plants that
already live in this environment"
“But it’s not just about this particular project; I think Green Heart Partnership has
given us the confidence to apply this kind of collaborative approach to different
projects and planning issues, so we’ll see a real long-term impact across a wide
range of our services.’ Alison Phin, Leisure Development Manager, Three Rivers
District Council”
www.greenheartpartnership.org
5.4 Herts Museums Cultural Diversity Project
Led by Hertfordshire Museums this is a partnership project, involving seven
museums in Hertfordshire and the County’s Local Studies and Archives Services
(HALS). The Project's main aim is to develop a greater awareness of the cultural
diversity of Hertfordshire through activities and events that engage with minority
ethnic communities who are currently under represented by their local museums.
£161,500 of the funding has come from the Heritage Lottery Fund with £11,000 from
the Districts and the Herts Museum Partnership. A project officer has been
employed for two years to help deliver the activities and events at the seven
museums; Stevenage, Watford, Hertford, St Albans Museums, Hitchin, Dacorum
Heritage Trust and Tring Zoological Museum.
Aims of the project:
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To increase the number of people from ethnic minorities visiting and taking part at
the seven museums in Hertfordshire and to improve the quality of involvement for
those people.
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To help raise the awareness of everyone within the County about the ethnic
diversity of the place in which they live, work and go to school, helping to
appreciate those cultures different to their own and reduce prejudices.
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To increase the ability of museum staff and volunteers to address diversity issues
and race equality.
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To encourage greater cultural diversity in the museum workforce by supporting
the Co-ordinator to develop a career in museums.
The project was launched at Hertford Museum on 18 May 2004 and will continue
until June 2006. Two of the museums have already developed and held their
exhibitions, Hertford Museum's 'Passing Places' illustrated the Traveller communities
of Hertfordshire and Asian Routes looked at the important contribution Asian people
have played in the paper industry of Hemel Hempstead. Hitchin Museum, in
partnership with David Bedward, a local community worker has staged a
performance of ‘Soul Town’. This is a community play based on David’s experiences
of growing up in Hitchin within the African Caribbean community. The play was
performed by local school children.
The remaining projects will be developed over the next two years culminating in the
collation of material from the different communities and individuals involved, to
produce a County resource for schools on the cultural heritage of Hertfordshire.
It is intended that this project will be used as a study of best practice across the
region on how museums can develop their services to be inclusive of all members of
the communities they represent.
6. HCC Cultural Partnership
6.1 The Herts County Council Cultural Group has been reconvened and the first
meeting took place in May. Membership of the group can be found in Appendix 2.
The main objectives for the group are to:
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review Enjoy! the cultural strategy for Hertfordshire
be engaged in the future programme of work for the Culture and Libraries
Panel
raise awareness of the value of culture to support the delivery of statutory
and non-statutory services. The aim is for ‘the golden thread’ of culture to
run from the top to the bottom of the organisation
strengthen HCC’s position in light of culture being a strand of CPA
6.2 At the first meeting of the HCC Cultural Group it was agreed that the group:
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map all HCC resources that are allocated to cultural activity, broken down by
statutory and non-statutory activities [which could be considered as added
value]
identify key cultural partnership projects that are taking place across the
county/region in each cultural sector
identify how these projects are resourced, whether HCC or external funding
or even match funding in time
identify how these projects link to/support the key themes/objectives of:
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HCC challenges,
Enjoy!
Hertfordshire Forward
the Local Area Agreement
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the CPA performance indicators
This will then inform how we might best approach the review of Enjoy!
6.3 Proposed Initial Timetable for HCC Cultural Group
Action
Test performance against PIs
Confirm areas of strength and
weaknesses
Mapping of HCC resources
By when
September 2005
September 2005
Mapping of external resources
Identify key cultural partnership
projects
End of January 2006
End of January 2006
Identify how projects support
delivery/ objectives of :
 HCC Challenges
 Enjoy!
 Herts Together
 LAA strands
 CPA PIs
End of January 2006
Develop project plan for review of
Enjoy!
End of February
2006
7.
End of January 2006
Financial Implications
No additional resources are required. This work will be funded through existing
budgets.
Background information referred to by the author:
Enjoy! a cultural strategy for Hertfordshire
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Appendix 1
HERTFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL
CULTURE AND LIBRARIES PANEL
Friday 18th November 2005
Countywide Cultural Partnerships
HCC Officers are active members of the following key countywide
cultural partnerships:
Herts Association of Cultural Officers {HACO}
- membership includes the Directors of Community/Leisure in the Districts,
Sport England, Arts Council East, University of Herts
Herts Sports Partnership
-membership includes the voluntary sector, Sport England, the University of
Herts, the Districts, Specialist Sports Colleges, Clubs, Sports Coaches and
Governing Bodies
Herts Arts Partnership
-membership includes professional art organisations, the Districts, Arts
Council England East
Green Heart Partnership
-membership includes The Districts, Lee Valley Regional Park Authority, Arts
Council England East, the University of Hertfordshire
Herts Tourism and Leisure Partnership
-membership includes the Herts Chamber of Commerce, tourism businesses
and organisations, the Districts
Herts Museum Partnership
-membership includes the Districts with the exception of Three Rivers, East
of England Libraries and Archives Council {EEMLAC} and the independent
museum sector
Herts Association for Local History
- membership includes local historians, Hertfordshire Record Society and the
Historical Association
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Appendix 2
HERTFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL
CULTURE AND LIBRARIES PANEL
Friday 18th November 2005
The Hertfordshire County Council Cultural Group is made up of the following
colleagues. The membership of the group reflects where cultural activity is taking
place across the county council.
 Dorothy Blatcher, Strategic Partnership Officer
 Stewart Bryant, County Archaeologist
 Julie Bunnage, County Education Sport Manager
 Andrew Burt, Funding and Partnerships Manager
 Catherine Davis, County Arts Development Officer
 Becky Dunning, Project Officer {Children with Disabilities and Young
Carers}
 Bev Hannibal, County Adviser for PE
 Annie Hawkins, County Cultural Officer
 Donald Houston, Development Officer Youth Service
 Julie Massey, County Museum Development Officer
 Trevor Mose, Project Manager Environment
 Suzanne Rider, Arts Education Development Officer
 Christine Shearman, Heritage Services Manager
 Penny Soper, Head of Communications ACS
 Marianne Stevenson, Head of Adult, Family and Community Learning
 Glenda Wood, Head of Libraries, Heritage and Arts
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