The Culture Trust Luton - Business Plan 2020-25 Report
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
The Culture Trust Luton Business Plan 2020-25 Report
— CONTENTS SUMMARY 03 1. OUR PRIORITIES 04 2. CONTEXT 09 3. STRATEGIC CULTURAL VENUES 11 4. STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS 15 5. STRATEGIC PROJECTS 17 6. STRATEGIC COLLECTIONS 18 7. IMPACTS 19 Front image: Photo: The Basement Bunch Ltd - a film and theatre production company with a commitment to community. https://thebasementbunch. co.uk - Photo by Greta Zabulyte
—
SUMMARY
The Culture Trust is an independent Our purpose
The Culture Trust Luton is a progressive and
charity and company limited by entrepreneurial arts and cultural charity
guarantee, established in 2008. and our mission is to connect communities
We produce and present year- through meaningful culture and creativity.
round programmes of activity Our vision
across our two theatres, museums, Is to be recognised as a national arts and cultural
exemplar.
arts centre, gardens, historic hat
factories and creative spaces. Our strategic aim
Is to be financially independent.
We manage the town’s heritage
Our values
collections and archives and Drive our choices, approach and organisational culture.
have a collection of over 2 million We are:
artefacts. We hold the most — Passionate
extensive and complete hat — Relevant
— Inspirational
and headwear collection in the — Distinctive
UK and the Mossman carriage — Ethical
collection at Stockwood Discovery
Priorities:
Centre is the largest in Europe. Over the next 4 years (2021-25), we are focusing on
delivering six priorities;
We are proud to be based in Luton
PRIORITY 1: Widen Community Participation
and we welcome thousands of We increase community participation by freely
regular local and regional users opening, animating and sharing culture at Wardown
House Museum and Stockwood Discovery Centre.
to our venues. We also invite the
PRIORITY 2: Develop Young People’s Skills and Talent
wider international community We will engage young people in a programme of
to engage with this incredibly creative skills and talent development with clear
cultural career progression routes.
diverse and stimulating town
through our cultural offer. PRIORITY 3: Present Inspiring and Diverse Arts
We widen access to culture by presenting local and
international music, theatre, comedy, dance and visual
arts at the Hat Factory Arts Centre, Library Theatre and
Storefront Gallery.
PRIORITY 4: Grow Luton’s Creative Industry Cluster
We will grow the Hat District creative community,
networks, creative industry events, outdoor activity and
promote more engagement with Luton’s hat heritage.
PRIORITY 5: Co-curate Museum Collections
We will curate and co-produce locally relevant and
nationally important exhibitions, collections and
projects.
PRIORITY 6: Boost the Creative Economy
We will develop a sustainable, resilient and forward-
looking Trust, boost the local economy and advocate
for the creative and cultural sector.
Fig. 1 Stockwood Discovery Centre Gardens
Image: The Culture Trust Luton
1.
OUR
PRIORITIES Fig. 2 Theatre at Wardown House Museum
Image: The Culture Trust Luton
We nurture our customers and Our Programme:
audiences and we engage the
What we programme:
creativity of artists, curators, writers, Theatre, dance, circus arts, film, literature, story-telling,
performers and producers to make exhibitions, workshops, talks, artist residencies, family
great new work. events, comedy and music.
Through our programmes we actively Where we programme:
The Hat Factory studio theatre, gallery, basement
promote the value of arts and culture in lounge & bar, Hatch Workshops, Luton Library Theatre,
creating a sense of place, regeneration, Wardown House Museum & Gallery, Murray Barford
wellbeing, community cohesion and in Gallery, Stockwood Discovery Centre’s special exhibition
space, Hat Works and Hat District outdoor spaces.
improving the quality of people’s lives.
Our primary target market is:
Across our programme we provide Local, under 25’s, artists/creative practitioners and
creative opportunities and activities diverse communities: We will predominantly target
for young people to inspire them and young people under the age of 25, students and
creative practitioners and arts graduates. We also
generate skills for life. re-engage lapsed local users or those who attend
infrequently and provide opportunities for them to
We create transition and progression engage more regularly. We will specifically focus on
routes between formal education and increasing audiences and users from our diverse
successful careers to enable anyone communities especially those who rarely engage in
arts and culture.
with a skill, interest or passion in arts
and culture to meet their full potential. Our secondary target market is:
Regional and national: We will develop incentives and
Arts and cultural activity, resources, campaigns to attract people from a one hour travel
venues, stock and collections are an time by bike, car, bus, train or plane to attend our major
programmes and events and use/hire our spaces.
important way for the Trust to deliver
its objectives and so access to our International partnerships:
communities is a priority for us. Are important to us to connect our work between the
Trust and national and international partners who
share arts and cultural objectives with us. By flight it’s
one hour to Paris, two hours to Milan and seven hours
to New York.
OUR PRIORITIES
PRIORITY 1: Work streams:
WIDEN COMMUNITY
1.3 Cultural Wellbeing:
PARTICIPATION 1.1 Wardown House Museum and
Gallery: To develop Arts on Prescription
To provide free public access to and wellbeing walks/trails for
We increase community the museum, collection and to people of all ages engaging in
participation by freely an inspirational venue which is free and subsidised activity that
managed to high professional
opening, animating and standard. We deliver additional
promotes positive mental health.
sharing culture across events theatre, music and
1.4 Growth Area for Research and
our venues including temporary exhibitions involving
Development:
and encouraging community
Wardown House collections and diverse histories. We would like to grow our own
Museum and Stockwood produce in the greenhouses and
Discovery. kitchen garden at Stockwood to
1.2 Stockwood Discovery Centre: serve across our cafes. We will
To provide free public access to develop our gardens, team and
the gardens, museums, galleries, volunteers to grow healthy food to
art and woodland for year- eat, including heritage produce,
round horticulture and heritage and promote localtraders/
enjoyment. We will deliver producers.
additional programmes of outdoor
arts, community events, indoor
exhibitions and outdoor projects.
PRIORITY 2: Work streams:
DEVELOP YOUNG
PEOPLE’S SKILLS AND 2.1 Schools Engagement: 2.3 Hat Works, Pioneers and
To provide specialist workshops Members:
TALENTS and educational visits linking To provide inspiring creative
our cultural offer and museum workspaces for creative
We will engage young collection/stories with the practitioners. We will offer
curriculum and wider learning
people in a programme needs of young people. We will
affordable and accessible ‘pay as
of creative skills and deliver activities at Stockwood,
you go’ creative business start-up
spaces and member benefits.
talent development with Wardown and the Hat District,
both virtual and physical.
clear cultural career 2.4 Growth Area for Research &
progression routes. Development:
2.2 Creative Skills and Career We would like to more formally
Progression: train own curators and
To develop inter-connected cultural leaders and engage
workshops, events and networks local young people currently
for young people to continually under- represented in Museum
engage in culture and develop Management and Cultural
cultural careers. We will provide leadership. To continue to launch
specialist resources at Hat Works, careers in Luton and create world
Hatch and Place of Making in class curators/cultural leaders.
partnership with Universities,
Schools, Colleges, Sixth Forms and
LCEP.
OUR PRIORITIES
PRIORITY 3: Work streams:
PRESENT INSPIRING
3.3 Luton Library Theatre:
AND DIVERSE ARTS 3.1 Hat Factory Arts Centre:
To deliver a programme of To showcase a seasonal
stimulating, entertaining and programme that will focus
We will widen access to diverse arts in our well- equipped on Young People and family
culture by presenting and inclusive arts venue. We will audiences. We will also provide
present, produce and partner new
locally relevant and work, showcase exemplary touring
opportunities and technical
support for local companies and
nationally important and engage local companies, artists
groups to collaborate and hire
music, theatre, comedy, and community initiatives to widen
the space to test new work in a
engagement.
dance and visual arts professional environment.
at the Hat Factory Arts
Centre, Library Theatre, 3.2 Artist Commissions and New 3.4 Growth Area for Research &
Work: Development:
Storefront Gallery and
To commission, support and We would like to grow our Arts
the Hat District in the subsidise artists and creative production skills, and capacity and
heart of Luton. companies who are developing team so that we can develop new
locally relevant and nationally work and for our Venues to be
important work that will excite and artistically led.
engage new audiences to attend
the Hat Factory Arts Centre, the
Storefront Gallery and Factory
Window.
PRIORITY 4: Work streams:
GROW LUTON’S
CREATIVE INDUSTRY 4.1 Hat Factory Arts Centre: 4.3 Growth Area for Research &
To become a vibrant creative Development:
CLUSTER industry cluster of workspaces The long-term strategy for the
providing jobs, opportunities and Trust is to grow its freehold assets
We will grow the exemplary spaces to develop and and further develop underused
grow creative industries, jobs, skills
Hat District creative and networks.
spaces and heritage buildings
community, networks, across the Hat District with a
view to developing new creative
creative industry
4.2 Creative Networks: workspaces, projects and initiatives
events, outdoor activity To promote and animate the Hat that will grow the creative ecology
and promote more District Creative Cluster. We will and vibrancy.
engagement with support collaboration to grow the
Luton’s Hat Heritage. presence of creative industries in
Luton. We will develop networking
events, forums and opportunities
to develop the Hat District as a
go-to place for creatives to meet,
socialise, network with the Creative
Industries Federation, SEMLEP,
Luton Creative Forum, LBC and
University of Bedfordshire.
OUR PRIORITIES
PRIORITY 5: Work streams:
CO-CURATE MUSEUM
5.4 Hat and Headwear Collection:
COLLECTIONS 5.1 Accredited and Exemplary
Museums: To develop study and research
To curate and maintain our programmes that will increase
We will curate and co- Museum collection and galleries footfall to the Hat and Headwear
produce locally relevant to accreditation standards and Research Centre at Wardown
ensure professional management
and nationally important and digitisation of stored objects
and promote the hat collection
nationally and internationally.
exhibitions, collections and archives within our stores
We will further develop the hat
and projects. at Cutenhoe, Wardown and
collection, digitisation and seek
Stockwood.
‘designation’.
5.2 Museum and Culture Makers: 5.5 Growth Area for Research &
To continue to grow the award Development:
winning volunteer programme - We have a long-term ambition to
Museum Makers and expand into grow the museum at Stockwood
Culture Makers. We will provide in order to provide a world-
high value activity and impacts for class collection and visitor draw.
all. In partnership with LBC and
Save Our Town we will look at
5.3 Diverse Collections and options to showcase the Vauxhall
Heritage Stories: car collection and develop an
To develop the collection to enhanced facility.
be more representative of
local histories with a focus on
introducing more Black and Asian
heritage objects and stories into
the Museum narrative. We will
co-produce heritage tours and
collection sharing events with the
local community.
OUR PRIORITIES
PRIORITY 6: Work streams:
BOOST THE CREATIVE
6.4 Cultural Impacts:
ECONOMY 6.1 Organisational Resilience:
To diversify the core funding To demonstrably communicate
and to grow more generated impacts of our work to our funders,
We will develop a funds from the Hat District and customers and key stakeholders.
sustainable, resilient Trading Company. This will include To satisfy partnership agreements
reviewing priorities, resources,
and forward looking fundraising and harnessing
with Luton Borough Council,
London Luton Airport Ltd., Arts
Trust, maintain our entrepreneurial opportunities and
Council England, SEMLEP,
entrepreneurial spirit, partnerships that will support our
Historic England and National
charitable objects and Business
boost the local economy Plan. Lottery Heritage Fund. Ensuring
and advocate for the efficient and effective central
creative and cultural administration, data, document,
6.2 Financial Resilience: finance and office management.
sector.
To review and strengthen our
resources, policies, IT and practices 6.5 Growth Area for Research &
to ensure we can meet the needs Development:
of the Trust through periods of We aim to improve our green
change and uncertainty (such as credentials, in partnership with
Covid-19) and comply with Charity Julies Bicycle, to reduce energy
Commission, Companies House consumption and ensure
and funding agreements. sustainable practice across the
Trust’s venues and operation
6.3 Workforce Development: to reduce car use, travel and
To develop individual and team electricity/energy use across sites.
skills and talents within our
workforce. This will include
investing in development of our
team in order to grow and maintain
a high performance and job
satisfaction. We will review diversity
to ensure we are representative of
our customers and community.
2.
CONTEXT
2.1 Our structure: model provides the charity with 2.5 Our DDD Model:
We are a not-for-profit charity assurance that it has a very long- The Direction, Development and
with a turnover of circa £3.1m term sustainable future.. Delivery (DDD) model outlines
and we own a trading company the way in which we develop,
which gifts profit back to the 2.3 Our operation: deliver and direct our work, how
charity. We submit annual returns We operate primarily from three we communicate and how we
to Companies House and the cultural sites which are Wardown share ideas and, importantly, how
Charities Commission. We have House Museum & Gallery, we remain responsive and make
a Board of Trustees who provide Stockwood Discovery Centre and decisions.
governance and meet quarterly, the Hat Factory Arts Centre. The
monitoring performance through three cultural sites are important
HR, Finance and Trading Sub- and attractive heritage buildings
Committees. Day to day running and grounds, and they are the
of the charity is delegated to the main focus for our programmes,
Chief Executive who reports to the activities, commercial operation
board. and audience development. Each
site tells a different and important
historical story about the people
of Luton and they each create a
different type of platform to present
We generate funds through our today’s stories. The Culture Trust
ticket sales and events and also team of staff, volunteers and board Fig. 3 Direction,
through our trading company members specialise in enabling Development & Delivery
model
profit (retail, catering and hire). We our visitors to engage with our
also receive an annual donation collections, programmes, resources
from London Luton Airport and with each other. Most of our 2.6 Luton:
Limited (LLAL). In addition we buildings are owned Luton is a post-industrial
have a funding agreement with by Luton Borough Council town, known for its history in
Arts Council as a National Portfolio (LBC) and we operate under manufacturing through Vauxhall
Organisation (NPO). a peppercorn rent, leases and Motors, Electrolux and hat
It is recognised that this is not agreements of varying terms and factories such as Olney’s, Gurney’s
sustainable and that we are heavily tenures. Our three core sites have and Connor’s. Hat making
reliant on these funds. It is our long leases, we have two freehold began in Luton during the
strategic aim to be financially properties along with a number of 16th century and this industry
sustainable in 2025 by generating operational agreements with LBC dominated the local economy.
net income which covers over relating to IT and Health & Safety. Luton-made straw and felt hats
50% of our costs through trade have been, and still are, marketed
and activity. This will mean that 2.4 Our team: across the world. Once boasting
we are not over-reliant on grants We are a major creative industry over a hundred hat factories across
and the LLAL donations to deliver employer with a team of 44 staff the town, Luton now has four.
our core work. Should funding and a large supporting team of Economically Luton now benefits
and facilities be withdrawn, the part-time staff and volunteers. from the development of London
Trust would be able to deliver its Our staff structure and business Luton Airport, a new enterprise
charitable objectives from its own planning follows the DDD model zone, and excellent transport links
freehold properties. Whilst this which is highlighted below: and infrastructure which places
is not our preferred option, the Luton in an enviable position
CONTEXT
with easy access to national and
international travel, trade and
recreation.
Luton has a population of
approximately 213,000 (54.7% are
white, 30.0% Asian, 9.8% Black,
4.1% mixed heritage and 1.5%
other). The 2011 census identified
Luton to be a ‘plural’ town, where
no one ethnic group is in the
majority. Luton has a higher than
national average population of
young people and a lower than
national average number of
people over the age of 44.
Research undertaken through
the Active People survey in 2010,
found that just 35% of Luton’s
population engage or participate
in cultural activity, placing the 2.8 Our users:
town in the bottom 20% of We normally attract 75,000 visits
least culturally engaged places to the Hat Factory Arts Centre,
in the UK. In September 2015 180,000 to Stockwood Discovery
the Royal Society for the Arts Centre and 65,000 visits to
(RSA) listed Luton as the second Wardown House Museum &
worst town (324th) for heritage Gallery.
engagement, assets and areas of The majority of our audiences
natural beauty. Heritage Lottery are local with currently 20% of
Fund has identified Luton as the visitors for the Hat Factory
a priority development area. and Wardown House, Museum
Those attending ticketed and Gallery coming from beyond
events at the Hat Factory Luton.
and Library Theatre are
from the segments that are 2.9 Our regional reach:
traditionally ‘highly engaged’ Our ticketed audience map
with the arts, categorised identified the reach of our current
as people who like ‘Trips & audience (2017-18) and where
Treats’ (26%), people described we need to target our marketing
as ‘Dormitory Dependable’ to intensify audiences locally.
(20%) and ‘Commuterland The maps below show the %
Culturebuffs’ (13%). of households in that area that
It could therefore be said that bought a ticket through our
our existing audience is already ticketing system. This map also
culturally engaged, so we need to demonstrated what ‘local’ and
develop programmes, marketing ‘regional’ reach looks like for to
strategies and incentives to the Trust.
better engage non-users.
Fig. 4 Based on the Audience Agency’s
segmentation. Our regional reach showing
Trust users’ postcodes: Image: Experian
Ltd. - Our local reach showing Trust users
postcodesFig. 5 Hat Factory Arts Centre
Image: The Culture Trust Luton
3.
STRATEGIC
CULTURAL
VENUES
We focus our resources 3.1 Hat Factory Arts from both established and
on animating our Centre emerging touring companies who
three cultural venues are making high quality work in
The Hat Factory Arts Centre the UK.
and heritage sites
is one of Luton’s leading arts
and ensure that they venues featuring live music, club The Hat Factory Arts Centre
are well used, locally nights, theatre, dance, films, comprises a 106 seat studio theatre,
relevant and nationally children’s activities, workshops, a basement venue, gallery and
important. Our three talks, networks and exhibitions. flat floor music venue, 13 creative
workspaces, meeting rooms,
strategic sites are
We specifically target young and the Hat Factory Café and offices.
Wardown House diverse audiences to engage in Capital refurbishment took place
Museum & Gallery, our programmes, but welcome in 2018 and was completed in
Stockwood Discovery everyone to be inspired by September 2019. Funded by
Centre and the Hat the UK’s leading productions, the Trust, Arts Council England,
artists and to develop artistic SEMLEP Local Growth Fund and
Factory Arts Centre.
skills and talents through skills Luton Borough Council this project
These venues will development and professional has transformed the public areas of
remain free entry and practice. Complementing our own the Arts Centre.
open throughout the programming, we welcome local/
year thanks to funding regional promoters to the venue,
broadening our music offer and at
from London Luton
the same time supporting young
Airport Limited. promoters and their businesses.
We programme contemporary
theatre and dance with a focus
on fresh, new and relevant storiesSTRATEGIC CULTURAL VENUES
3.2 Wardown House,
Museum and Gallery
Wardown House, Museum and home during the Victorian period to the park and the Morning Room
Gallery is a mid-Victorian, Grade as the original use of each room is now an art gallery as well as
II listed building situated in the is communicated through the venue for events and exhibitions,
beautiful landscaped Wardown collections including the Billiard and extensive work has made the
Park on the outskirts of Luton Room, Smoking Room, Library and building fully accessible.
town centre. Kitchen. With an exemplary hat and exhibitions, and extensive
collection, local and social historical work has made the building fully
Entry and parking is free and collections, the displays chart accessible.
the House provides inspiring, the development of Luton and
eclectic and beautifully curated celebrate its diverse communities.
collections for people of all ages. Originally designed in 1872 as a
The museum underwent a £3.5m private residence for Frank Scargill,
redevelopment during 2016, a local solicitor, the house was
reopening in April 2017 following bought by two local Councillors in
a £1.8m grant from the Heritage 1903 who opened up the grounds
Lottery Fund (HLF) to conserve the as a public park. The house
historic building and transform the was used as a military hospital
way its story is told. during the First World War before
Wardown House now gives visitors becoming a museum in 1931.
an insight into a wealthy family A new café provides direct access
Fig. 6 Wardown House Museum Fig. 7 Wardown House Museum
Image: The Culture Trust Luton Image: The Culture Trust LutonSTRATEGIC CULTURAL VENUES
3.3 Stockwood
Discovery Centre
Stockwood Discovery Centre is beautifully designed formal modern day. Highlights include
located in the Georgian Grade gardens and an array of specialist the Wenlock Jug - a rare medieval
II listed stable block and walled plants, shrubs and trees. The masterpiece with strong links to
garden of the former Stockwood garden is one of the few places Luton’s history and development,
House. in the country where the work the town’s last tram, and the
of acclaimed artist Ian Hamilton famous Mossman collection of
It reopened in 2008 after a £6m Finlay can be seen on permanent carriages - the largest collection of
investment programme and display. The site is free to access as its kind on display in the UK.
includes interactive displays are the Museums and so the site is
exploring local history from very popular with people of all ages
prehistoric times to the present, a throughout the year. The Garden
temporary exhibitions programme, Café is open every day and provides
an award-winning carriage an exceptional variety of food and
display, a visitor centre with a shop drinks to the many thousands of
and café, an outdoor children’s visitors every week.
discovery area and world, sensory, Our Museum galleries present
medicinal, world and wildlife local history, carriage and car
gardens. collections and tell the stories of
Stockwood Discovery Centre real people behind the collections,
includes walled gardens, exploring the history of the region
woodland, historic greenhouses, from prehistoric times to the
Fig. 8 Stockwood Discovery Centre
Image: The Culture Trust LutonSTRATEGIC CULTURAL VENUES
The Hat District 3.4 Hat House The Creative
Hat House is an imposing former
hat factory at 32 Guildford Street
Eco-system
The Hat District is a The Trust is committed to
that has been repurposed to
transformational, three site contributing to the talent
meet a gap in the market for
creative workspace development development of the town through
contemporary industrial-style
project led by The Culture Trust its Skills & Talent Pipeline. All artists
workspace with a heritage
providing workspace for new and delivering work or commissions in
pedigree. It is part of the wider Hat
the Hat District will be contracted
established businesses within District project breathing new life
to contribute into the Creative
Luton’s Cultural Quarter. into the Plaiters Lea conservation
Ecosystem by offering a talk,
area, attracting creative businesses,
workshop, attend a networking
support start- ups and promoting
event, mentor or present their
Luton’s heritage, arts and cultural
stories and work to Luton’s Black,
activities.
Asian and Minority Ethnic creative
community and members of Hat
3.5 Hat Works Works.
Hat Works regeneration project
has brought back into use the
oldest remaining hat factory in
Luton which was empty for many
years and in a state of disrepair. Hat
Works will become the entry point
for creative entrepreneurs, makers,
innovators and collaborators to
start-ups their micro- businesses
and grow within the inspiring
ecology of the Hat District.
Fig. 9 Hat District graphic art by Karl Brown
Image: The Culture Trust Luton4.
STRATEGIC
PARTNERSHIPS
Fig. 10 Learning at Wardown House Museum
Image: The Culture Trust Luton
4.1 National Portfolio
A funding partnership with Arts
Council England
We are delivering a unique model collections excellence, digital 3. Creative Case for Diversity: we
for community and volunteer engagement and participation will contribute this through our
engagement that has been shared through Museum Makers. targeted arts programme working
as an exemplar across the UK. Our with Black, Asian and women
commitment to co-producing the The programme covers 4 key artists.
museum with our communities areas:
has changed the way we operate 4. Museum Maker Schools:
and helped secure investment 1. Collections Excellence: Co-Pro Schools will develop and
into Wardown House. The model achieving this through Grow strengthen our arts work with local
has informed the Library Makers Your Own (investing in our staff), schools.
pilot and we plan to take it a stage providing funds to improve our
further with Culture Makers in the Digital Resources.
next 2 years.
Now that we have secured NPO 2. Museum Makers 2.0: a review,
funding we will engage and evaluation and new strategy to
activate more people from Luton’s activate more Museum Makers,
diverse communities to join. The and aligning with our digital work
NPO delivery plan focusses on through a virtual curator.STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS
Our Partnerships
London Luton Airport Limited
(LLAL)
provide a donation to the Trust
annually.
The funding we receive enables us
to widen reach through free entry
to our museums, engagement
with collections and cultural
sites and accessible public
engagement programmes. We
also ensure the funding supports
opportunities for young people to
develop their creative and cultural
skills and talents into careers. We
specifically deliver the Community
Funding Policy objectives.
Luton Borough Council (LBC) Fig. 11 Hat District Community Heritage Tour
is a long-standing partner who Image: The Culture Trust Luton
originally set up the Trust. LBC
continue to support us in many NPO started in 2018. We value the South East Midlands Local
ways and has enabled the Trust funding we have benefitted from Enterprise Partner (SEMLEP)
to grow greater independence and the strategic discussions has helped support our work in
so that we can stand on our about arts engagement and best promoting the growth of creative
own two feet and make a major practice. Nationally we contribute enterprise and industries in Luton
contribution back into the town. to the Culture White Paper 2016 through over recent years by being
We value the funding, support and we deliver Great Art and part of their regional network.
and partnerships we have Culture for Everyone. Through this group we found out
with LBC to develop culture, about funding and subsequently
regenerate, protect our heritage, Heritage Lottery Fund applied for the Local Growth
grow skills and promote Luton. has regularly invested in the Funding which was accepted
We contribute to: The Luton Trust over the last 10 years and in 2016. SEMLEP are a key
Investment Framework; Arts & continues to support our vision supporter and funder of our future
Cultural 10 Year Vision; Luton and plans to widen access to sustainability work. We contribute
2040. the town’s incredible heritage nationally to the government’s
buildings, sites and collections. Industrial Strategy and regionally
Arts Council England (ACE) Through our partnerships with to SEMLEP’s: Heritage, Sports,
has supported our ambitions HLF we have also been able to Visitor Economy, Cultural &
through funding the Luton develop our locally relevant and Creative Industry Plan and the
Investment Fund ‘As you Change nationally important stories Strategic Economic Plan.
So do I’ project, and, more through our exhibitions and
recently, ACE has invested in our engagement programmes. We
Hat Factory refurbishment and have also been able to encourage
capital costs and accepted our more visitors to engage in our
application for National Portfolio museums and to learn about the
Funding (NPO) to expand our importance of local heritage.
Museum Makers development at
Wardown House. Our four year5.
STRATEGIC
PROJECTS
Fig. 12 Hat District mural by Mark Titchner & Jonathan Barnbrook
Image: The Culture Trust Luton
5.1 Hat District Learning from the town’s first step towards stabilising and
Creative Cluster important history of hat making sustaining the Trust’s long-term
and manufacturing, the creative position.
Project cluster will once again contribute
to the local economy by increasing By 2022-23, the Hat District
Hat District is a project to job opportunities, visitors and project will:
develop a cluster of inspiring spend whilst regenerating the
work, study and show spaces area and boosting pride of place. — Develop 25,832 sq ft of new
in the cultural quarter. We The Hat District consists of: the and bespoke creative business
are creating facilities and Hat Factory Arts Centre on Bute workspace in the quarter —
infrastructure to bring creative Street, Hat Works and Hat House Support, develop and enable 133
and talented people together on Guildford Street. The Hat additional Creative Industry jobs
so that they can innovate and District buildings are within the — Have an economic impact of
collaborate. Plaiters Lea Conservation Area £29m
which is a key location for the — Boost the local economy by
future development of Luton. We attracting 135,000 more visits to
have developed a business model the four sites
that shows how the Hat District — Grow a vibrant creative ecology
will be self-funding by 2025. The and ‘life-style brand’
Hat District cluster project is the6.
STRATEGIC
COLLECTIONS
6.1 Hats and Headwear The focus for the next 3 years will
be on researching all aspects of the
Luton hat industry story. We will do
Hats and headwear are this through the hat district project
synonymous with Luton. Over the and developing better links with
last 5 years we have refocused the remaining hat manufacturers.
our approach to curation away We will redisplay our collection in a
from being generalists and larger gallery at Wardown House.
toward a focus on this collection. We will also be maximising income
generating opportunities through
Our plan is to secure ACE a national/international touring
designated status. By growing exhibition, publication and retail.
our own skills and expertise we
are positioning ourselves as the
national experts and through this
will make new partnerships with
other significant collections, such
those at Stockport Museum and
with international partnerships
with Italy, Switzerland and Japan.
Along with our own 4 Vauxhall
6.2 Carriages and cars, is an opportunity for a new
partnership with Vauxhall Motors
Vehicles Limited. We are working with Save
Our Town and Luton Borough
The Mossman collection at Council on supporting the Vauxhall
Stockwood is the largest horse heritage collections and with it a
drawn vehicle collection in proposal to investors and funders to
Europe. develop a new gallery at Stockwood
to showcase this world class
It offers a unique opportunity to collection.
develop and collate a nationally
important archive of the history
of horse draw vehicles, design
manufacture and social history.
Building on our experience with
hats and headwear we will to look
at developing this collection.7.
IMPACTS
By 2023 we will:
— Welcome 350,000 visits to our
cultural sites and venues
— Develop 25,000 sq ft of Hat
District workspace with creative
industries supporting over 100 jobs
and 22 start-up businesses
— Engage with 95% of primary
schools and attract 21,000 young
people to engage in arts and skills
development
— Promote public engagement with
heritage by opening up historic
venues for free visits over 350 days
per year
— Provide meaningful engagements
for 250 active volunteers throughout
the year
Fig. 13 The Hat Factory Arts Centre
— Satisfy 33,000 ticket holders at Image: The Culture Trust Luton
our diverse and stimulating arts and
cultural events
— Reduced our carbon footprint by
ensuring 65% of our consumables
are purchased locally
Find out more:
— Fundraise over £1 million inward
For regular progress in our delivery of this plan please
funding for culture in Luton visit our website: www.culturetrust.com
— Spend £1.5 million in the local
economy every year ©2019 Culture Trust
Registered Charity No. 1122964
Company registration No. 06373488
Registered address:
Luton Cultural Services Trust
The Hat Factory Arts Centre, 65-67
Bute Street
Luton, Bedfordshire, LU1 2EYYou can also read
