A major new countywide cultural programme will transform how arts and culture activities are created, shared and sustained across Gloucestershire, following a £1.3 million investment from The Summerfield Charitable Trust.
“That’s an Idea” is a three-year initiative designed to shift cultural power, resources and decision-making into the hands of local communities. Delivered by a partnership of 12 trusted organisations, the programme will embed creativity into everyday life while building lasting cultural capacity across the county.
Rather than introducing a new top-down strategy, the initiative provides complementary infrastructure that will connect, strengthen and amplify existing local initiatives. It respects local ownership and expertise while creating the conditions for a more joined-up, sustainable and community-led cultural ecosystem.
Gloucestershire benefits from vibrant local cultural activity and strong voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) networks. However, access to arts and culture remains uneven, and before this initiative, there was no countywide mechanism enabling communities to shape cultural investment or build long-term creative opportunities.
“That’s an Idea” responds by redistributing power to residents, investing in local ideas and talent, and creating the infrastructure needed to sustain creativity across communities.
The programme will be delivered through three interconnected strands:
Embedding Creativity in Everyday Life will place communities at the centre of decision-making through a countywide Citizen Panel, alongside Micro-Grants, Creative Hubs Grants and Cultural Connectors working within neighbourhoods.
Creative Ecosystems: Strengthening Infrastructure for Lasting Change will provide shared digital tools, commissioning frameworks and data to connect organisations, reduce duplication and support long-term sustainability.
Building Tomorrow’s Creative Talent will create paid pathways, skills development opportunities and support for creative entrepreneurship, helping people to build sustainable careers within the county.
David Owen, Chair of Trustees at The Summerfield Charitable Trust, commented:
“We are delighted to support this initiative because it speaks directly to something we believe deeply: that arts and culture should belong to everyone. This is about more than funding activity; it is about shifting power into the hands of communities, unlocking creativity, and creating opportunities for people to shape the cultural life of their own places. By investing in this work, we are helping to build confidence, connection and long-term capacity across Gloucestershire, ensuring that creativity becomes part of everyday life and a source of pride, wellbeing and opportunity for all”.
Matt Lennard, Chief Executive of Gloucestershire VCSE Alliance, said:
“It has been a pleasure working with this group, whose members have set aside organisational interests to focus on the shared goal of developing outstanding art and culture services for our county. The breadth of skills, expertise and community connections within the group provides a strong foundation for this work to thrive. I look forward to seeing the innovation it inspires and the talent it helps to uncover”.
Phil Hindson, Chief Executive of Gloucester Culture Trust, added:
“Everyone has the right to arts and culture. This innovative investment from the Summerfield Trust will help more people across our county access and enjoy arts and culture that is relevant to them. Working in partnership with Gloucestershire Creative Health Consortium, we will help local artists to connect with communities, offering access to inclusive cultural opportunities that support well-being and reduce isolation.
“I’m particularly excited by the opportunity to create a Citizens’ Panel for Gloucestershire. You’ll be able to make decisions about what’s happening in your local area – Cirencester, Tewksbury, Stroud, Gloucester, the Forest of Dean or anywhere in between, you’ll get to choose what the cultural offer looks like on your doorstep”.
Karen Lawton, Chief Executive of Mindsong, commented:
“The innovation behind The Summerfield Trust investing such a large sum of money in us and “That’s an Idea!” has given us the freedom to explore creativity in the county, look at new ways to give grants and come up with a plan that is able to flex as we discover the brilliant ideas out there just waiting for support”.
Working across the entire county, the partnership brings together organisations with deep community relationships, ensuring the programme builds on what already exists while enabling new ideas and connections to flourish.
By embedding creativity into everyday spaces – from high streets and libraries to schools, care settings and community venues – the programme aims to create a lasting shift in how arts and culture are experienced and valued.
Over time, “That’s an Idea” will establish permanent community-led decision-making structures, a connected countywide cultural ecosystem, and a diverse pipeline of creative talent. It is designed not as a short-term intervention, but as a long-term systems change programme that will leave a lasting legacy for Gloucestershire.