Culture-led capital projects: catalysing local decision making in place

Cultural Devolution
Written By Culture Commons

Discussion Paper

Partners

University of Kent

Author(s)

Dr Cara Courage; Dr Lucrezia Gigante (Culture Commons); Professor Catherine Richardson (University of Kent)

Editor

Trevor MacFarlane

Description

This paper examines how culture-led capital development projects are creating new opportunities for local cultural decision making in the UK. Through an analysis of two live case studies – Docking Station (Medway, Kent) and Harmony Works (Sheffield, South Yorkshire) – we examine how capital development projects function as important nodes within creative, cultural and heritage ecosystems, as well as their potential to enhance the voice of local people within them. We make several tentative recommendations for future policy support mechanisms that could ensure the flourishing of such projects in future.

Published as part of The Future of Cultural Devolution in the UK.

April 2025

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