Published: Monday, 17th February 2025
A shared ambition to work together for a confident, celebrated and inclusive cultural and heritage scene in King’s Lynn is to be considered by the borough council.
The draft Culture and Heritage Strategy seeks to put culture and heritage at the heart of King's Lynn, recognising the benefits this can bring for the local economy, creative organisations, wellbeing and quality of life.
The strategy has been shaped collaboratively with the support of Arts Council England and through research and extensive engagement led by the council’s consultant Art Reach, including with residents, those volunteering and working in the cultural sector, heritage and creative industries, and funding partners.
It sets out an overarching vision, supported by four priorities, and an action plan and funding strategy towards achieving those, and will guide the collective energies and investment of the borough council, cultural partners and funders, complementing the recently-agreed West Norfolk Economic Strategy.
The vision is: “Our vision for King’s Lynn is that in 10 years, we have a cultural sector that is collaborative, outward-looking and internationally connected, working alongside people and organisations to innovate and animate our rich local heritage.”
The priorities are:
- Developing young people as makers, producers and creators
- Creatively animating heritage in King’s Lynn
- Working collaboratively to be more resilient
- Ensuring that sustainability, inclusivity and diverse voices are embedded within King’s Lynn’s culture and heritage.
Health and wellbeing, inclusion and environmental sustainability are key themes throughout these four priorities.
Development work included workshops and a survey with representatives of cultural and heritage sectors, a public survey, creative activities at local museums and focus groups with young people and health partners, supported by wider engagement undertaken for major regeneration programmes including the Long-Term Plan for Towns.
Following an update meeting with cultural and heritage stakeholders last week, the draft strategy will be considered by the Environment and Community Panel on 25 February before going to Cabinet on 4 March for consideration.
Councillor Simon Ring, Deputy Council Leader and Cabinet Member for Business and Culture, said: “The creative industries are growing in West Norfolk, and King’s Lynn has a unique wealth of historic assets, along with a dedicated and passionate array of cultural and community organisations achieving brilliant programmes and events for our borough.
“Having this positive, shared strategy will help King’s Lynn’s valuable cultural and heritage offer to thrive, in collaboration with our residents, communities and partners, guiding and opening up more opportunities for investment in these sectors and providing facilities and support to attract creative businesses to make their home here.
“This is turn will help us, collectively, to support growth and prosperity, including delivering our ambitions for a sustainable and thriving town centre, and support people’s health and wellbeing and the green agenda. As a council, we are already progressing several truly transformative regeneration projects to make more of our underused rich built heritage in King’s Lynn.”
Tim FitzHigham, the council’s cultural officer, added: “We are delighted with the enthusiasm and support from existing partners and stakeholders, including Arts Council England, and new people and organisations who have engaged with us during strategy development. Many productive and exciting conversations have contributed to produce this positive shared vision and priorities.”
More information about the strategy and its development is available here - Culture | Culture | Borough Council of King's Lynn & West Norfolk
Notes to editors:
About Art Reach: Supported by Arts Council England, the Borough Council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk commissioned Art Reach to lead on the development of the Culture and Heritage Strategy for King’s Lynn. Art Reach is an arts and cultural charity, creative producer and consultancy. At Art Reach, our consultants strive to elevate creative people and organisations, helping them to explore complex pasts, reshape the present, and imagine new futures. Our expertise spans business, board and artist development, fundraising strategy, evaluation, training, and cultural strategy development, ensuring resilience and impactful outcomes for our partners.