Show latest news, more from September 2004.
UK launches new publication on culture and communities
UK Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell today launched a new booklet providing practical advice to local authorities and other organisations on how to use culture in their areas to build community cohesion. The booklet, Bringing Communities Together Through Sport and Culture, also looks at sporting activities as a pathway to community strengthening. It was inspired by a seminar, held in Oldham in March 2004, to discuss ways in which culture and sport can create a sense of local pride and belonging. Almost 100 local practitioners and delegates from regional agencies united to discuss how arts, sport and culture have helped to bring their communities together as well as analysing how their experiences could be used to shape similar projects or interventions in the future. In her Foreword for the publication, Ms Jowell says: ‘The Oldham event proved that authorities, agencies and community groups are increasingly focused on how the arts, sports and museums can support communities in improving the quality of local life. We must now use these networks of expertise and enthusiasm to meet the changing needs of young people and their communities and make sporting and cultural initiatives work in the future.’ Five aspects of using sport and culture to build community cohesion are highlighted in the booklet: needs analysis; partnerships; growing and adapting projects; evidence and evaluation; and celebration. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport intends to build on the work with its agencies and key departments such as the Home Office and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister to support grass roots initiatives and local needs more flexibly. For more information, CLICK HERE.
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