Resources

A useful guide for those who already chair, and those who would like to start a What Next? Chapter. Including the key principles of a What Next? meeting, a how-to-chair guide and a sample agenda for a first What Next? meeting.

Following a conversation at a What Next? meeting about the difficult situations cultural organisations can find themselves in when an action sparks controversy – for example, the presentation of a divisive piece of work, or a contentious sponsorship deal – What Next? has produced some practical guidance on ethics. The guidance responds to contributions from organisations across the UK to a What Next? survey on the subject of ethical and reputational challenges and is intended to help leaders meet such challenges with a greater sense of confidence.

“In working to sustain a thriving, vibrant and at times challenging cultural sector, there will be tricky decisions to make and the need to handle difference of opinion. In an increasingly complex world, the more that can be done to approach contention with courage and a zest for debate, the healthier our cultural and civic life. This guidance has been compiled to encourage bold, yet measured decision-making…”
Régis Cochefert, Director, Grants and Programmes, Paul Hamlyn Foundation

Many of the ideas in the document come from survey contributions and the content has been discussed and tested by an advisory group. It has been further informed by interviews across the sector and more widely. It does not attempt to offer definitive answers and every organisation will want to use it in different ways, taking and embedding what is useful to them. We hope the prompts and suggestions are useful and welcome feedback via email.

The creative industries in the UK are booming and an increasingly important part of the economy, with growth outgunning that in finance and insurance and employment up by 5 per cent between 2013 and 2014 against a 2.1 per cent UK average. But the captains of industry who oversee the million-pound art sales, the publishing companies and the advertising conglomerates that returned £77 billion of direct GVA in 2012-2013 know that it is not just their business acumen that makes them a success story.

For the first time, top British entrepreneurs and business leaders, from Melanie Clore, chairman of Sotheby’s Europe, to Tom Weldon, CEO Penguin Random House, internet businesswoman Baroness Lane-Fox to Caroline Rush, CEO British Fashion Council, explain in this report why they see public investment in culture as crucial to what they do…

The 2015 Report by the Warwick Commission on the Future of Cultural Value, a 12 month inquiry into how Britain can secure greater value from its cultural and creative assets.

A Right to Culture for Every Child is the manifesto document of the Cultural Learning Alliance (CLA).

“The right to culture for every child must be a cornerstone of our national cultural and educational policy. We must ensure equal access for all children and young people to quality arts, cultural and creative learning opportunities.

Nearly 25 years ago the world made a promise to children. The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child – to which the UK is a signatory – states that all nation signatories shall ‘respect and promote the right of the child to participate fully in cultural and artistic life and shall encourage the provision of appropriate and equal opportunities for cultural, artistic, recreational and leisure activity’…”