The Council recognises the importance of the Arts as an integral part of the County’s work and the cultural, social, and economic benefits they bring to people and communities.
As a part of the Council's new Community Services, the Arts unit is well placed to take arts development in Cheshire into new and exciting realms, whilst continuing to strengthen and confirm some of the basic roles of a County Arts Service.
Our work is informed by several simple principles: quality and excellence, access and accessibility, diversity, and encouraging of participation. By following these principles it is hoped that all arts activity in Cheshire will be of benefit to those people living in, working in, or visiting the County.
The principal role of an Arts unit is to deal with a wide variety of arts related issues at many different levels. This includes arts management such as the development of policy, strategies, fund-raising, and monitoring, as well as a range of practical projects working with local groups, individuals, and partnerships with other authorities, individuals and groups across the region.
One of the unit's roles is to work in collaboration with, and offer support to a range of other Council Services and Departments.
Examples include: Libraries, Museums, Education, Youth Service, Social Services and Countryside Management.
Despite high impact, much of the Arts unit's work remains hidden, "behind the scenes". For example: the work generated in monitoring and assessing funding, audience research and performance indicators; working on initiatives such as the Directory of Artists and the County Arts database; working in partnership with regional and sub regional agencies to make sure we are not only informed about what is going on, but actively contributing to the local and national arts scene. |