Research project

Cultural Strategies

Project overview

Cultural strategies are an essential way to build a strategic vision and commitment to culture within and across places.

This website brings together various projects, reports and resources linked to research led by Professor Dan Ashton.

The main materials are the Cultural Strategies and Futures report and the Cultural Strategies Think Kit developed with the Local Government Association.
 

Cultural Strategies and Futures Report

Download the Cultural Strategies and Futures report [.pdf, 1.6KB]

 

Cover of Cultural strategies and futures (PDF)

 

Cultural Strategies Think Kit

The University of Southampton and Local Government Association have collaborated on developing the recommendations from the Cultural strategies and futures report into an accessible Think Kit resource pack for creating and sustaining a cultural strategy.

The development of the Think Kit was funded by the University of Southampton Arts and Humanities Research Council Impact Acceleration Account.

Learn more at the Cultural Strategies website

Watch the Cultural Strategies Think Kit webinar

 

Title slide for Cultural Strategies Think Kit, dated Thursday 6 November 2025. Logos for the Local Government Association, University of Southampton and Arts and Humanities Research Council are displayed along the bottom.

 

Cultural Strategies Network

The Cultural Strategies Network facilitates conversations on the development and sustaining of cultural strategies and supports engagement with the Cultural Strategies Think Kit. It is coordinated by Dan Ashton (University of Southampton) and Ian Leete (Local Government Association). Current activities include bi-monthly online meetings and a LinkedIn Group.

Join the Cultural Strategies Network on LinkedIn

 

 

Staff

Lead researchers

Professor Daniel Ashton

Professor of Cultural & Creative Industries
Research interests
  • Culture, place and policy
  • Cultural and creative industries work and organisations
Connect with Daniel

Research outputs

Daniel Ashton & John Wright, 2026
Type: conference
Daniel Ashton, Ian Leete, Emalene Hickman & Elise Hurcombe, 2026
Type: conference
Daniel Ashton & Ian Leete, 2025
Type: website
Daniel Ashton & Makanani Bell, 2023
Type: report