Creative People and Places restructure ‘contradicts its ethos’

Changes to the operation of Creative People and Places are at odds with the ethos of the programme, people involved say.

The peer learning element of the world-leading cultural placemaking scheme has been taken over by Arts Council England (ACE) as funding to Museums Northumberland to enable the work, the third grant since the network was established, expired on 31 March.

Creative People and Places (CPP) projects, now part of the National Portfolio, will get access to a broader base of learning materials via the new, proprietary learning initiative, ACE says.

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But sources familiar with the situation expressed deep disappointment, saying a once collegial relationship with ACE soured over the final two years of the grant.

The funder's approach was said to have changed problematically under the leadership of National Director for Engagement and Audiences Rebecca Blackman to become "paternalistic" and "hierarchical", contrary to the leadership model of the projects themselves.

The peer learning programme in particular was treated as a "contract" rather than an independent grantee and its activity was routinely challenged, sources said, with decisions taken by the Arts Council about which partnerships could be developed and what learning could be shared beyond the network. This was in contrast to the previous approach.

ACE wholly rejected these claims. It says it has seen no substantive evidence of them, but people within the network feared speaking out in case it damaged their chances of joining the next National Portfolio in 2023.

"All decisions about the aims, methods, and future design of the Creative People and Places programme were made collectively by Arts Council England, not by one individual, and sector consultation informed our approach," a statement said.

"Arts Council England actively encourages learning and partnership within the Creative People and Places programme." 

Strategic intent

Sources allege ACE became unhappy with CPP's growing profile and sought to claim the scheme's successes for itself.

Initial grants to Museums Northumberland were for four-and-a-half years, but the last only covered half that length of time. The truncated grant made planning difficult and raised alarm that the peer learning programme would be shut down.

The Creative People and Places website and Twitter account were closed last month and assets handed over to ACE. People ArtsProfessional spoke to were unclear why funding wasn't extended, given ACE always had oversight of the programme via its membership of a steering group.  

ACE says it provided a shorter-term grant so it could "review and ensure we are spending public funds wisely".

"This also gave us the opportunity to consider how we can make sure the programme fitted in with the aims of our new 10-year strategy."

It made the changes after surveying CPP programmes, staff, directors and partners last autumn.

"The new peer learning programme that CPPs will have access to as part of our National Portfolio is a chance to bring in and connect with wider partners on an equal basis."

Who owns learning?

There are concerns about ACE taking over responsibility for sharing learning and evaluation. 

Sources questioned whether a funder can truly deliver open and honest peer learning materials for its own scheme.

They said plans for a 10-year anniversary celebration of CPP signed off by ACE were later scrapped.

ACE refuted this, saying plans for a celebration "are very much still in place" for later this year.

Details are still being developed, the funder said, but it's likely to include "celebratory messaging across social media and dedicated web content".