Energise Me

Culture in Common is a community-led arts and culture programme for the New Forest, funded by Arts Council England’s Creative People and Places initiative. Led by a consortium including Energise Me, Folio, The Handy Trust, New Forest District Council, and the National Park Authority, it aims to increase cultural engagement in underserved areas. Since 2022, it has reached over 45,000 residents through workshops, exhibitions, and creative clubs, co-designed with local communities to reflect their interests and needs.

The South Downs National Park has it all – rolling hills, glorious heathland, river valleys, ancient woodland, thriving villages and towns. We are the youngest National Park in England, and the most densely populated, spanning from Winchester in the west to Eastbourne in the east. This iconic landscape is managed in partnership for nature, beauty and heritage, for the benefit of people – communities and visitors alike. It has been a refuge and sanctuary, a working landscape and a recreational one, an inspiration for artists over centuries. We both seek to preserve the unique archaeological and historical legacies of past communities and support the creation of new responses to the landscape by contemporary artists, writer and makers.

Located at the heart of the beautiful, historic coastal market town of Lymington, St Barbe is both a dynamic museum and highly regarded art gallery that appeals to both locals and New Forest visitors. The museum explores the history of Lymington and the New Forest Coast, inspired by local pride, and supported by the local community, its collections and colourful, hands-on displays offer a fascinating insight into the area for all ages. Our vision is to become the most respected small Museum and Art Gallery in the UK – using art, heritage and culture to inspire the whole community.