Culture Activities in Kensington and Chelsea

This consultation sought to understand views on the Council's current offer of cultural activities and explore what stakeholders believe should be priorties in the new Culture Plan. Given the breadth of this work, multiple activities took place including a survey with our Citizens’ Panel, a publicly available survey, sector engagement workshops, a session with Kensington and Chelsea’s Youth Council and an in-person event with approximately 97 Citizens’ Panel members.

Details of these activities can be found in the full report.

The feedback from this consultation, will help shape priorities for investment and partnerships, so that cultural opportunities remain diverse, valued, and impactful across the borough.

• Current provision of cultural activities – Respondents most commonly participate in restaurants and cafés (75 per cent), museums (74 per cent), and cinema/film and art and design (both 62 per cent). The activities residents would most like to see more of are theatre (51 per cent), followed by art and design and cinema/film (both 46 per cent), and community events and music (both 44 per cent). Kensington Central Library and Portobello Road Market are the most valued cultural services, each valued by 80 per cent of respondents.
• Improving experience of culture in the borough and the Council’s role – Free‑text responses highlighted three main priorities: improving promotion and accessibility of cultural activities (165), expanding and diversifying cultural events and the use of public spaces (94), and increased support for local artists, venues and heritage (57). Respondents most strongly supported the Council promoting events through its communication channels (84 per cent), supporting markets and community events (78 per cent), and funding additional street cleaning and security after large events (75 per cent).
• Value of cultural activities – There is strong agreement that culture adds enjoyment to residents’ lives (85 per cent agree), that cultural activities should be encouraged by the Council (83 per cent) and supports learning (79 per cent). Respondents also strongly agreed that cultural activities help bring communities together (81 per cent) and support inclusion by enabling people to meet others from different backgrounds (81 per cent).
• Prioritising future cultural activities – Respondents were given free space to share which cultural activities they believe the Council and its partners could do to improve their experience of cultural activities in the borough, when themed, the three most common topics are, Council run services including libraries, parks and museums (151), community and grassroots cultural activities (136) and cultural venues, institutions, and arts (127).
• Supporting community cohesion – Respondents were also given free space to share what more they think the Council can do through cultural actives to support community cohesion, when themed, the three most common topics are, inclusive and diverse cultural programming (51), scepticism of Council’s role and cultural activities (40) and promotion, communication, and awareness (40).

The feedback from this survey is being used as the basis of our new three-year Culture Plan. What we heard will inform our approach to supporting culture in the borough and where we will be focusing our efforts. The Culture Plan is being developed with a view of being published later in the year. This statement will be updated once the plan is finalised.