What is our collective vision for culture, creativity and heritage in Hampshire?
Join us to help answer this question.
We’re inviting you and colleagues from Hampshire’s cultural, creative and heritage sectors to an event where we will explore together what’s important for culture, creativity and heritage in the region and agree the strengths we can build on.
We’ll start by hearing from key political and sector leaders, alongside Arts Council England, exploring the importance of culture, creativity and heritage in our region and the opportunities that future changes in Hampshire and the Solent could bring.
But for most of the day, our priority will be you. We want to hear your voice, explore your views, challenges and ambitions and think together about how we can unlock our shared potential as a sector across the county.
This event has been created by partners from across the sector – local theatres, galleries, museums, festivals and creative businesses. Find out more about Culture Connects and who we are.
Where?
University of Winchester West Downs Centre
When?
Friday 5 September,
9:30 am
- 5:00 pm
Tickets
Free - booking essential
Supported by
Why do we need to discuss this now?
The creation of a new mayoral strategic authority for Hampshire, with elections in May 2026, is a chance for the cultural sector to come together, share ideas and play a part in shaping what happens next. As responsibilities shift and new structures emerge, it’s more important than ever to make sure arts, culture and creativity are at the heart of the vision for our places and communities.
So…
- What new opportunities for culture could devolution unlock?
- How can I flourish as an individual artist?
- What are we most proud of?
- How can we widen access and foster an inclusive cultural sector in the region? What barriers are there? Whose stories are missing?
- How do we join our voice with the Solent cities and Isle of Wight to provide a joined up vision for the new strategic authority?
… or any other questions you want to discuss.
What do we mean by culture, heritage and the creative industries?
By this we mean the full spectrum of creative life in Hampshire; everything from professional arts and performance to community festivals, museums, local traditions, crafts, music, digital content and the spaces where people come together to make and share stories.
If you’re an artist or producer, a museum professional or digital creator; if you’ve ever exhibited work, led a creative project, worked behind the scenes, explored local history or simply created something meaningful, then your voice matters.
What happens afterwards?
The ideas and ambitions that come out of the event will be captured and shared with attendees and the wider sector in Hampshire. They will also be shared with key decision makers, including local authorities and Arts Council England, who are working to embed culture and creativity within the new local government structure.
Participants can also stay connected through Culture Connects, helping to keep up the momentum and turn the ideas from the day into real opportunities.
This is an Open Space event
What does that mean? An Open Space approach is a simple way for groups of people to think, work and take action together around a shared interest. There is no advance agenda and the conversation will be whatever you make it. The session will be facilitated by Nick Sweeting who for many years has worked with Improbable, a theatre company that specialises in using this process. For more information about Open Space please see here.
The connections made, relationships formed and exchange of ideas at Open Space can be transformative.
Join us and be part of it.
Schedule
9:30 am
Delegate arrival and refreshments
10:00 am
Introduction and speakers
10:45 am
Introduction to Open Space by Nick Sweeting
11:45 am
Open Space Session 1
12:45 pm
Lunch
1:30 pm
Open Space Session 2
2:30 pm
Open Space Session 3
3:30 pm
Open Space Session 4
4:30 pm
Open Space feedback
5:00 pm
Finish
Speakers and facilitators
Cllr Nick Adams-King
Leader of the Council,
Hampshire County Council
Cllr Zoe Huggins BEM
Executive Member for Hampshire 2050 - Transformation & People,
Hampshire County Council
Carolyn Abel
Director of Culture & Tourism,
Southampton City Council
Carolyn leads on Culture & Tourism in Southampton and was a key driver behind the UK City of Culture 2025 bid and its legacy. She has been central to the development of the Solent Cultural Plan, the Hampshire, Portsmouth and Southampton Local Visitor Economy Partnership and work to establish a regional Film Office. Carolyn is chairing the Culture, Creative and Visitor Economies workstream for the Hampshire & Solent Devolution Priority Programme and will provide an overview of our aim to achieve a joint cultural manifesto for our region.
Ginny Graham
Senior Relationship Manager,
Arts Council England
Ginny works on strategic cultural development across the Hampshire-Solent area. She was previously a theatre producer based in Bristol, working on national and international touring productions. She began her career in publishing before moving into theatre.
Nick Sweeting
Producer and facilitator
Nick is a theatre maker. He is an expert in Open Space Technology and has regularly hosted Open Space events in the UK and internationally (including Australia, the USA, and Turkey) to support creative collaboration and exploration.
FAQs
The venue
Please see our FAQs for information on accessibility and parking.
Where to find it
University of Winchester
Romsey Road
Winchester
Hampshire
SO22 5FT
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