Peterborough Cultural Strategy

Peterborough’s culture welcomes all!

    Sughra

    Success! Peterborough Cultural Alliance celebrates ACE grant.

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    Peterborough Cultural Alliance (PCA) is celebrating a grant award of over half a million pounds from Arts Council England, which will make a significant impact in delivering Peterborough’s Cultural Strategy and put Peterborough firmly on the cultural map.

    This significant funding will help grow the cultural infrastructure, ensuring stable growth; bring Peterborough together by galvanising arts, culture and heritage programmes, and build a cultural plan, fit for our dynamic and growing city, reflecting its rich diversity and potential.

    By receiving this Place Partnership Fund grants award, Peterborough Cultural Alliance has proved it has met the very high standards of Arts Council England and is being trusted to deliver lasting change for Peterborough. Working closely with Peterborough City Council and other partner organisations, the PCA aims to build cultural and civic pride, uniting our communities and transforming the cultural landscape of the city.

    Sughra Ahmed, Director of Peterborough Cultural Alliance says, “This award marks a significant step in our commitment and investment in Peterborough’s cultural capital. We are very grateful to Arts Council England for this voice of immense confidence in us. It will help us grow as an organisation, hold important conversations that turn into positive action, in the hope that all of our cultural voices are being heard and grow into authentic reflections of this growing and dynamic city. This funding will impact us all – we value all of our communities. This is our home – we all bring our culture to the city which makes us who we are.”

    A representative from Arts Council England says, “We’re thrilled to be able to award the Peterborough Cultural Alliance with this substantial grant from our Place Partnership Fund grants programme, made possible by players of the National Lottery. This is an exciting project that will galvanise the local arts and creative sectors and bring about key strategic partnerships. We look forward to the creative and cultural opportunities that will come about in Peterborough as a result of this funding.”

    Be Heard! Residents survey launches today

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    What is Be Heard!

    Be Heard! is a survey to find out what people who live in Peterborough do in their
    spare time for fun. We are particularly interested in what creative, arts and cultural
    activities they do or go to, and what places they may visit.

    It is being run by Peterborough Cultural Alliance to try and make Peterborough a
    place where everyone can find the creative, arts and cultural activities they want.
    The Be Heard! survey is being carried out by Indigo Ltd on behalf of Peterborough
    Cultural Alliance (PCA). It will run from 1 – 29 February 2024.

    Find out more: www.be-heard-pbo.com
    Contact us: pca@neneparktrust.org.uk

    Who can fill in the survey?
    Everyone who lives in Peterborough (meaning they pay council tax to
    Peterborough City Council). We want to hear from as many people as possible 16
    years and over who live in the city, from every area and ward. Everyone’s voice is
    important.

    The survey should take about 10 minutes to complete (about 20 minutes if using a
    screen reader). It can be completed on a smartphone, tablet, laptop or desktop
    computer.

    We want to hear from everyone who lives in Peterborough – whether they
    currently take part in creative and cultural activities or not. It’s vital that everyone’s
    voice is heard.

    Facts about Be Heard!

    Be Heard! is an online survey. This minimises the amount of paper we use and
    helps us capture information most effectively. It can be completed on a phone, a
    laptop or a desktop computer.
    For help in accessing the internet or completing the survey, people can drop into
    a local library. The staff will help to complete the survey on their public
    computers. (Note: not all libraries are staffed all the time, so please check before
    visiting.)
    Anyone over the age of 16 can complete the survey.
    The answers collected will be anonymous and confidential.
    The survey is available in four languages: English, Polish, Lithuanian and
    Romanian.
    There is an Easy Read version of the survey for those who would find this helpful.
    This is not a survey run by Peterborough City Council, although we hope that
    the findings will help inform their decisions.
    Participants can choose to enter a prize draw on completion. They can enter to
    win £150 of high street shopping vouchers, Amazon vouchers or a voucher for an
    arts and culture organisation of their choice.

    Meet the new Alliance Director

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    Following a successful recruitment process which saw stakeholders from across the city meeting with candidates, we are delighted to have appointed Sughra Ahmed as the new Managing Director of the Peterborough Cultural Alliance.

    Sughra’s experience is diverse and wide-ranging. She has previously worked with organisations including the Universities of Birmingham, Yale and Stanford, the United Nations, and is the founder and director of Brilliant Burnley, a community organisation. As a Peterborough resident, her passion for culture and the arts is clear. Her vision and enthusiasm will provide strong leadership to the Alliance as  they work to deliver a vibrant and robust cultural offer for, and with, the people of Peterborough.

    Sughra said: “I am delighted and honoured to be leading the Peterborough Cultural Alliance. I will bring new leadership, opportunity and accessibility to all of our communities, whether urban or rural, new or old, and of all ages and backgrounds. I’m especially passionate about raising our cultural profile to heights that inspire people across the country and the world, where we will be known for inclusivity, accessibility and vibrancy.”

    The Peterborough Cultural Alliance is a partnership of 18 Peterborough groups and organisations who have come together to celebrate and increase the breadth and diversity of our cultural life in the city. They are supported by Arts Council England and the Combined Authority’s Shared Prosperity Fund. Through a collaborative programme of delivery they will empower and support creative people and and organisations to develop new work. They will continue to consult with organisations, artists and communities to grow and diversify, to raise the profile of Peterborough and its people.

    Co-chair of the Alliance Sarah Haythornthwaite of Peterborough Presents said: “We’re delighted that Sughra Ahmed will be joining us as our new Director. We were impressed by her approach to partnership working and her passion and ambition for driving forward the cultural offer in Peterborough. Her experience of working across different sectors and engaging with new audiences is just what the PCA needs to move forward.”

    Peterborough Call out for artists to join the Collaborative Programme

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    Peterborough Cultural Alliance is preparing a large scale bid to Arts Council England and we want to include proposals for artistic commissions led by people or organisations from our priority communities. You will have some connection with Peterborough through living, working, growing up or having previously produced work here. See all the details on the page at the top of the menu: the closing date is 23 April 2023. Good luck – we’re really looking forward to hearing from you.

    Recruiting: Director of the Cultural Alliance

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    Peterborough Cultural Alliance is now recruiting for its Director. The Director, with the full support of the board, will have a pivotal role in delivering on our Strategy and achieving our ambitions, putting Peterborough front and centre as a thriving city and destination.

    Read more: Recruiting: Director of the Cultural Alliance

    This is a unique opportunity to make a real change in the cultural lives of our residents and visitors and to foster a stronger economy for everyone.

    Read more about the role and apply online here

    The PCA is online!

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    The newly formed Peterborough Cultural Alliance is now online, and you can read all about it on this website. We’ll be updating here with all our news, events and opportunities as we begin to deliver on Peterborough’s Cultural Strategy.

    Meanwhile you can get in touch via the website, or follow us on LinkedIn!