Lancashire Cultural Services An introduction for the Communities Overview & Scrutiny Committee Ian Watson Head of Cultural Services 23 July 2009

"Lancashire's cultures are rich and diverse and belong to us all. We will work together to enhance, develop and care for culture because it is central to how we live, earn a living and inhabit our environment, and to how we understand each other." Ambition Lancashire 2008

Cultural Services is part of Community Services within the Adult and Community Services Directorate Consists of: Archives Service Arts Development Service Libraries Service Museums Service 900+ staff 100+ buildings and vehicles £25+ million revenue budget Lancashire Cultural Services

The Aims of Cultural Services To engage communities and individuals in accessible cultural activities which promote and encourage participation Using cultural services to encourage regeneration and improve standards of enjoyment and achievement with particular focus on vulnerable children and young people To develop opportunities for lifelong learning through engagement with individuals, communities and learning providers To provide programmes of activity which celebrate the richness and diversity of Lancashire’s cultural identity and promote a sense of belonging and place To advocate for and support our partners to deliver sport and leisure opportunities which promote healthy lifestyles and bring people from different cultures together

Lancashire has a clear vision of what it wants to achieve …. and that cultural services contribute to achieving this vision Our services have a record of meeting targets….and perform well against national standards Strong member support….strong advocacy for the positive impact that cultural activity has on people’s lives Track record of consulting communities and using the results to inform service development Demonstrate our commitment to partnership working Successfully drawn down external funding….in partnership using cultural experiences as a catalyst for regeneration Embedding performance management at all levels Current Position

Archives Service Core Purpose Managing information for the present, past and future. The Record Office collects and preserves Lancashire’s archival heritage and makes it accessible to everyone. Lancashire Records Management Service supports Lancashire County Council in managing its records and information securely, efficiently and effectively, meeting statutory and legislative obligations.

Archives Service Key Functions Making effective arrangements for the long-term preservation of Lancashire’s archives Making Lancashire’s archives accessible to new communities and individuals as well as existing users Enabling Lancashire’s archives to be used effectively to inspire learning and creativity Providing an efficient, effective and economical records management service for Lancashire County Council and other organisations

Archives Service Achievements over past year LCC has agreed to provide £4.3million to replace the air- handling plant and to build additional archive storage The archives of the Football League and the Lancashire Football Association are among the first of many sport association collections The Record Office website is one of the most visited of all the LCC sites and received more than 3 million hits 12,255 people visited the Records Office in person Service achieved a high 3* rating of nationally-moderated self-assessment of archive services

Arts Development Service Core Purpose To ensure that Lancashire residents and visitors have opportunities for access to, participation in and employment within a wide range of high quality creative activities.

Key Functions Develop a strategic approach to the support for cultural and creative activity Collaborate with partners to support the development of a wide range of high quality creative activities Ensure that the role of, and potential for contribution by, creative activities is included within wider planning processes Strengthen the infrastructure for arts and cultural development through support for creative organisations and initiatives across Lancashire Embed creative thinking and practice within core services Arts Development Service

Achievements over past year Development of creative activity with young people througha number of major projects linking with national and regional initiatives (e.g. £390k from Cultural Olympiad etc.) Regenerating areas and engaging communities through medium and longer term programmes and the establishment of recognised good practice (e.g. £50k from Arts Council etc.) Investment into the development of arts services countywide (e.g. joint funding of posts etc.) Arts Development Service

Panopticons - Singing Ringing Tree

Museums Service Core Purpose To inform, engage and inspire our audiences to a greater understanding of our shared heritage and exceed their expectations of us. To be the County-wide provider of Museums and Heritage services working with partners to preserve our shared heritage and deliver quality experiences to engage and inspire our diverse users and audiences.

Museums Service Key Functions Ensure the guardianship of Lancashire’s unique heritage and cultural assets; collections, buildings and staff’s knowledge and expertise, in ways that are innovative, relevant and appropriate Ensure Lancashire people are given opportunities to learn and develop, in friendly, high quality, inspiring environments which can contribute to their increased well being Contribute to the County’s economy and infrastructure, making Lancashire a better place in which to live and work and a place where everyone can celebrate their identity and diversity

Museums Service Achievements over past year Over 200,000 visits New volunteer arrangements at Fleetwood Museum Transfer of Turton Tower to Blackburn with Darwen Council Helmshore Mills Textile Museum project completed and award winning Clitheroe Castle Museum project completed Roman tombstone conserved and installed at Lancaster City Museum Major exhibition to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the M6 Successful first round bid to Heritage Lottery Fund for the re-development of the Museum of Lancashire Cabinet Review of the Service completed

Opening of Clitheroe Castle

Libraries Service Core Purpose To provide a “comprehensive and efficient” library service as set out in the Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964.

Libraries Service Key Functions Promote reading and learning Improve access to the range and quality of information available Encourage wider use of and access to digital services for information, learning, communication, and on-line transactions for daily life Ensure libraries are at the heart of community development and play an integral part in community cohesion Encourage young people to use library and information services Develop and improve services for older people

Libraries Service Achievements over past year Over 500,000 members and 2,000,000 visits National Year of Reading BIG Lottery Community Libraries Programme Regenerate Programme Children’s Centres Burnley Campus Library Services to Young People Customer Access Strategy Overview & Scrutiny Task Group

Potential issues for future consideration Corporate Culture Strategy Role of Cultural Services within current economic climate Contribution of Cultural Services to Comprehensive Area Assessment Contribution of Cultural Services to Multi-Area Agreements (e.g. Fylde Coast Cultural Strategy etc) Building Schools for the Future – culture and sport provision Olympics 2012 / Cultural Olympiad Development of a county-wide Reading Strategy