Bringing together culture, heritage, tourism and regeneration partners to create a shared vision for Bolsover's creative future, establishing long-term cultural leadership and embedding creativity within the district's regeneration ambitions.

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The opportunity

Following Local's initial feasibility work for the proposed Creative Co-op, it became clear that a single building alone would not realise Bolsover's wider ambitions.

The opportunity was much bigger.

Culture, heritage, tourism and the creative industries were already contributing to life across the district, but they operated largely independently. There was no shared vision, no collective leadership and no framework for aligning cultural investment with regeneration, economic development and community wellbeing.

Building on the momentum created through the Creative Co-op project, Bolsover District Council commissioned Local to help develop a more ambitious place-based approach – bringing together partners to shape a long-term vision for Creative Bolsover and establish the foundations for the district's first coordinated cultural leadership model.

What Local brought

Rather than writing another strategy, Local focused on building the relationships, confidence and shared ownership needed to support long-term cultural change.

Working alongside Bolsover District Council and partners from the arts, heritage, tourism, education and regeneration sectors, we:

• Established and facilitated the Culture & Place Group, creating a new strategic leadership forum for culture within the district.

• Developed a shared Theory of Change, helping partners articulate a long-term vision for culture as a driver of regeneration, economic growth, wellbeing and civic pride.

• Facilitated collaborative workshops to align culture, the creative industries and the visitor economy around common priorities.

• Produced the Creative Bolsover Manifesto, creating a bold, accessible vision that could inspire partners, communities and future investment.

• Supported the development of Bolsover's UK Town of Culture application, bringing together partners around a shared narrative and programme of ambition.

• Continued working with the Council to develop Bolsover's first Cultural Strategy, ensuring culture becomes embedded within the district's long-term planning and regeneration.

Throughout this work, our role has been to connect people before projects—creating the conditions for collaboration, shared leadership and collective ownership rather than delivering isolated initiatives.

What changed

Today, Bolsover has a much stronger foundation for long-term cultural development than when this journey began.

The district now has:

• an established Culture & Place Group providing strategic cultural leadership;

• a shared framework aligning culture with regeneration, heritage, tourism and the creative economy;

• a Theory of Change that connects cultural investment with measurable social and economic outcomes;

• a Creative Bolsover manifesto that articulates a collective ambition for the district;

• stronger relationships between cultural organisations, local government and strategic partners;

• and an emerging Cultural Strategy that will provide Bolsover with its first long-term roadmap for culture.

The work has also influenced wider regeneration activity, helping ensure culture is recognised as an integral part of Bolsover's future rather than an addition to it. The strategic alignment developed through the Culture & Place Group informed wider regeneration priorities and helped strengthen the case for significant government investment in the district.

Although the Town of Culture application was ultimately unsuccessful, the process itself created lasting value. It strengthened partnerships, clarified the district's ambitions and accelerated work that continues today through the development of the Cultural Strategy and wider Creative Bolsover programme.

Why it matters

Creative Bolsover demonstrates that successful cultural development begins with leadership, relationships and a shared sense of purpose.

For Local, cultural strategies are not simply documents—they are processes that bring people together, create common direction and build the confidence to act collectively.

By aligning culture, heritage, tourism, regeneration, education and the creative economy around a shared vision, Bolsover is creating the foundations for long-term social, cultural and economic change. The emerging Cultural Strategy will help ensure that creativity becomes embedded within decision-making, investment and place leadership for years to come.

This work also reflects one of Local's core principles: lasting change happens when communities, organisations and public partners share ownership of the future they want to create.

Project highlights

• Strategic partner since 2024

• Culture & Place Group established

• Creative Bolsover vision and manifesto developed

• Theory of Change and governance framework created

• UK Town of Culture application supported

• Bolsover's first Cultural Strategy in development

• Culture embedded within wider regeneration and place leadership

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Hero Image: The Co-Op site visit, Bolsover. Credit: Richard Tymon

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