Aims

The Cultural Forum's aims echo those of the Department of Culture, Media and Sport : to improve the quality of life for all through cultural, active leisure and sporting activities, to support the pursuit of excellence and to champion tourism, creative and leisure industries. More specifically, the Cultural Forum has been established to:

  • strategically affect the development of cultural activity and its fundamental importance in Bath & North East Somerset and the surrounding area;
  • act as a reference point for major developments in the local authority area and the sub-region;
  • involve residents and the community;
  • promote an image for the area that communicates creativity, innovation, and contemporary culture;
  • celebrate high quality cultural experiences and creative activity in the area;
  • develop educational opportunities for arts and sports in the area;
  • animate the urban and rural environment;
  • develop joint box office, website, marketing and promotional campaigns;
  • and create a productive network for those involved in cultural activities;
  • develop the cultural tourism offer;
  • and thus, generate income for local businesses;
  • through this, creating employment for local people;
  • maximize the social and economic impact of festivals, cultural organisations and events.


What the Cultural Forum Seeks to Achieve

Through co-operation and collaboration the members of the Cultural Forum will:

  • influence and affect the development of cultural activity in Bath & North East Somerset ans the surrounding area. - strategically, through advocacy and engagement; monitoring the delivery of the Cultural Strategy; and acting as a reference point for major developments in the local authority area and the sub-region.
  • create and enhance the visibility of cultural activities and a year-round festive atmosphere in Bath city centre and other local areas;
  • develop the quality and scope of what each independent member organisation offers;
  • work towards a year-round programme of events for the district;
  • strengthen the ability of each member to organise and promote effectively ;
  • provide access to information about venues and the facilities that they offer
  • increase the welcome for, and participation of, local residents in members' events and activities;
  • increasingly attract new audiences from further afield;
  • work with the tourism sector to attract an increase in the numbers of day and short-break visitors to the area;
  • work with local businesses (hotels, retail, travel, visitor attractions) to increase income generated in the area;
  • maintain and increase employment opportunities in the area, both directly by festivals and other cultural organisations and indirectly by other businesses;
  • market and promote these collective activities of Cultural Forum members to embrace an image of Bath and the area's modern, vibrant culture alongside that of its Roman, rural, industrial and Georgian heritage.