Funding to form a community-driven research network to enhance access to culture. Funded networks will create partnerships across communities, researchers, and policymakers, to promote urban cultural renewal.
LUCIA programme objectives:
- To develop collaborative research networks to actively engage local communities in widening access to cultural expression to support community cohesion and inclusion.
- To understand local cultural complexities, barriers and enablers, with a view to improving wellbeing in communities throughout the UK and addressing urban renewal and economic growth.
- To converge data and learning from a range of local and regional models to inform the spread and adoption of collaborative cultural policy across the UK.
The programme is aimed at funding people-centred partnerships which amplify seldom heard voices, which respect diverse cultural identities, and which facilitate creative expression, in order that innovative solutions can be found to widen community participation in culture across the UK.
Addressing key urban cultural challenges which are obstacles to community cohesion and civic discourse might include, but is not limited to, challenges around:
- cultural access
- violence against women and girls
- religious and cultural intolerance
- social media disinformation
- educational under-attainment
- intergenerational communication
- policing
- community interconnectivity
Networks may choose to focus on some of the below research themes, with recognition that this list is not exhaustive and wider research themes may be prioritised:
- definitions of culture
- breaking down cultural barriers
- ownership of cultural spaces
- amplifying hidden and hyper-marginalised voices
- transport and culture
- multiuse cultural spaces
- intergenerational access to culture
- tourism and community green spaces
The above themes are expanded upon in the LUCIA workshop report below.
ELIGIBLITY
Applications should be led by a strong, interdisciplinary leadership team who can articulate a clear shared vision for the network.
It is expected that at least one member of the leadership team will hold demonstrable experience in research within the cities and urban environments area.
Project co-leads from cultural, cultural policy and other relevant sectors, as well as representation from people with expertise by experience, must be included as part of the leadership team, for example:
- practitioners from cultural, cultural policy and other relevant sectors
- people with expertise by experience
- community organisations
- community researchers
- third sector and voluntary organisations
- policymakers
- local, regional and national government, including metropolitan combined authorities
- private sector
Public engagement should be prioritised throughout the activities planned, and applications should demonstrate equitable co-creation and co-production with community partners.
VALUE AND DURATION
The FEC of each network can be up to £100,000 for a duration of twelve months.
KEY DATES
Information webinar for prospective applicants: 10 October 2024 (1-2pm) – register here.
Deadline: 10 April 2025
Networks must start by 1 April 2026.
Full guidance below and on the opportunity webpage.