Local Government Association conference on culture, tourism and sport - 5th March 2024

Dear Colleagues,

I look forward to seeing many of you at our free online LGA Annual Culture, Tourism and Sport Conference on 5 March 2024. This year’s theme is ‘change and sustainability’, and we have an exciting programme with a range of notable speakers and interactive workshops including an introduction from the Secretary of State Rt Hon Lucy Frazer KC MP. We will be discussing how the national system of support and funding should be adapted and delegates will have the opportunity to shape the LGA’s lobbying engagement with Ministers and opposition parties and see how councils are delivering innovative projects on sustainability and promoting equality, diversity and inclusion throughout their local areas.

Over the next two years the CTS Board will take an in-depth look at a range of inequalities with the aim of sharing effective practice within the sector. This week we have also launched our call for evidence on supporting women and girls to be active. We welcome your case studies and evidence to help us share effective practice and inform our discussions with national stakeholders.

This month I published an article on Arts Professional in my capacity as chair of the LGA’s Culture, Tourism and Sport board about the need for the culture sector’s support, and the fundamental role the sector plays for our residents' wellbeing, providing employment and attracting visitors to our towns, cities and countryside. I also recorded a session for the Cultural Enterprise Podcast to talk about the current challenges facing our culture sector which will be available soon.

We are also delighted to join local government partners in a new National Alliance for Cultural Services, which will inform and influence the development of national policy for publicly funded culture. It is urging Government to provide a long-term, sustainable and multi-year funding settlement to local authorities ahead of the Budget, to protect continued investment in cultural provision. More detail on this new partnership is later on in the bulletin.

Do get in touch with the team if you would like to discuss any of our work at cts@local.gov.uk.

Kind regards,

Cllr Liz Green,

Chair of the Culture, Tourism and Sport Board