Local authorities are in a ‘unique position’ to support the creative arts and culture sector in their local areas, council chiefs say.

The Local Government Association (LGA) has welcomed the publication of Arts Council England's new Delivery Plan for 2021-24. This will be the first in a series of plans to support Let’s Create over the next decade.

Let’s Create, the result of three years of consultations, aims to support the following: ‘by 2030, England will be a country in which the creativity of each of us is valued and given the chance to flourish and where everyone has access to a remarkable range of high-quality cultural experiences.’

Among a number of outcomes, Arts Council England plans to promote creative opportunities in the local community to people at all stages of their lives and work collaboratively through place-based partnerships to promote high-quality culture at the local level.

Responding to the publication of the first Delivery Plan, Cllr Gerald Vernon-Jackson, chair of the LGA’s Culture, Tourism and Sport Board, said: ‘The LGA is incredibly supportive of this new Delivery Plan from Arts Council England.

‘Partnership working with arm’s length bodies is vital in making sure that funding invested in communities, goes further and has a greater impact. As place-makers, councils are in a unique position to be able to support this through the provision of locally-led culture facilities, including museums, libraries and arts organisations.

‘The creative arts and culture sector has a valuable role to play in our communities, it allows people to learn new skills, express themselves and understand important societal issues.

‘The LGA stands ready to work with Arts Council England to deliver high quality, opportunities to create and engage in culture.’

For more on the creative arts, check out Arts Council England chief executive Darren Henley's recent article in The MJ (£).