Developing a shared vision for culture in Essex
The Essex Cultural Steering Group brings together organisations from across the county to explore how culture can strengthen communities, support economic development and improve people’s lives.
Working with Essex County Council, I coordinate and facilitate the Steering Group, helping partners develop a shared vision and identify opportunities for collaboration, advocacy and collective action.
My role includes designing the programme, shaping strategic conversations, synthesising research and policy, and developing practical frameworks that help partners turn shared priorities into action.
My Role
Plan and facilitate Steering Group meetings.
Develop strategic frameworks and discussion papers.
Build relationships across Essex's cultural sector.
Synthesise research, policy and evidence.
Support collaborative decision-making.
Shape long-term cultural priorities for Essex.
Impact
The Steering Group has strengthened relationships across Essex’s cultural sector, creating greater alignment around shared priorities and providing a space for strategic conversations that might not otherwise happen.
By bringing organisations together around a shared vision, the work is helping to build a stronger collective voice for culture and create the foundations for long-term collaboration across the county into the future.
What I’m Learning
The strongest strategies aren’t written in isolation. They emerge through conversation, curiosity and a willingness to listen to different perspectives, experiences and ambitions.
As this work continues, I’m learning that shared ownership takes time to build. Creating space for different voices strengthens collective ambition and makes it more likely that shared priorities will translate into meaningful action. Building trust is an important part of that process.