Reflecting on Labour Party Conference 2026, Culture Commons Director & CEO, Trevor MacFarlane FRSA explores a renewed sense of political optimism, the future of cultural devolution and the case for a new cultural settlement that puts the growth of people alongside the growth of regional economies.

The government has announced a £1.5 billion investment to stabilise and renew England’s cultural infrastructure. This article sets out what’s in the package, how the sector has responded, and why it matters for communities across the country.

Owen Garling and Professor Michael Kenny from the Bennett Institute for Public Policy at the University of Cambridge share insights from their ongoing research project examining 'cultural infrastructure'.