Singing from the same hymn sheet: creativity in the Cotswolds takes centre stage
Creative organisations in the Cotswolds are working together to shine a spotlight on the vibrancy of the area’s cultural scene in an initiative supported by Cotswold District Council.
The Creative Cotswolds partnership aims to boost the reputation of the district as a thriving centre for creative and cultural experiences – both for visitors and residents alike.
The area is home to a wide range of cultural assets, from long-established institutions which reflect the region’s heritage, such as the Corinium Museum, to newer venues like the Cidermill Theatre in Chipping Campden and the Barn Theatre in Cirencester.
Creative Cotswolds will bring these local cultural organisations together to work as a team - sharing ideas, planning events, and helping each other reach more people. The partnership will create a network of groups working towards a plan to grow and strengthen the creative sector across the district.
This includes using the hashtag #CreativeCotswolds to help amplify culture and creativity across the district.
And while the partnership hopes to boost the cultural sector in the region financially, it is also focused on using creativity to bring people together and make a positive difference in local communities.
Cllr Paul Hodgkinson, portfolio holder for health, culture and visitor experience at Cotswold District Council, said: “This initiative isn’t just about shouting loudly about our amazing cultural offerings and putting the district on the map as a great place to enjoy arts and culture - it’s also about showing how this creativity can bring people together.
“A successful cultural scene also has a strong link with creating local jobs and a strong economy.
“People might ask, ‘what is culture?’ – well it’s art, it's museums, it's music, it's crafts and there's oodles of it in our area. Our aim is to join these up to make them more accessible to everyone, locals, residents and visitors alike.”
Longborough Festival Opera is one of the organisations involved with the partnership. Artistic director Polly Graham said: “We’re thrilled to be part of Creative Cotswolds. There’s so much creative work happening locally, and we know of many other fantastic organisations making a real impact across the region.
“From opera, like us, to festivals, museums, and theatres - there’s an incredible range of cultural experiences on offer that many people simply aren’t aware of. Bringing all of this together under one banner is a brilliant idea that will benefit so many. Definitely get involved: together, we’re stronger.”
To find out more about the Creative Cotswolds initiative, email: [email protected]
Find out more about Longborough Festival Opera by visiting their website here: Longborough Festival Opera.