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NEW FOREST CREATIVE & CULTURAL FRAMEWORK
Commissioned by Arts Council England and New Forest District Council, the New Forest Creative and Cultural Framework was developed in response to a changing landscape for the cultural sector. As funding priorities shifted, Local Government Reorganisation and devolution gathered pace, and new investment opportunities such as Priority Place status emerged, there was a growing need for a shared vision that could strengthen collaboration and position the New Forest for future investment.
Rather than beginning with predetermined solutions, the process began by listening. Through research, sector mapping, one-to-one conversations, workshops and stakeholder engagement, we worked with artists, cultural organisations, local authorities, funders, community partners and residents to understand the strengths of the existing cultural ecology, identify shared challenges and explore where ambitions aligned. It was a collaborative process that gave people a genuine opportunity to influence the framework, creating shared ownership and a collective vision for the future.
Alongside facilitating the process, we brought together the research, consultation, local priorities and wider cultural context to develop a framework that reflected both the realities of the New Forest and the opportunities ahead. Ideas were tested, challenged and refined through ongoing dialogue with partners, ensuring the final framework balanced long-term ambition with practical delivery priorities.
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The resulting framework establishes a shared vision, strategic ambitions and delivery priorities for arts, culture and heritage across the New Forest. In doing so, it provides a shared framework for collaboration, helping partners align priorities, strengthen relationships and respond collectively to future opportunities and challenges.
The final framework is due to be published in Summer 2026 and will be taken forward by Creative Forest, who will coordinate its delivery and ongoing development.