Southern Culture
Did You Know?
Murder
Nether Wallop in Hampshire was the fictional St Mary Mead in the Joan Hickson Miss Marple TV series.
Thames Gateway North Kent
TGNK covers the local authority areas of Dartford, Gravesham, Medway and Swale. These areas have a proud history but the decline of traditional industries has left them with some of the most deprived communities in England, and a vast amount of brownfield land.
Under the Sustainable Communities Plan, TGNK will undergo a massive transformation including the development of up to 50,000 new homes and 80,000 new jobs by 2021. An important first step will be taken in 2007 with the opening of the upgraded Channel Tunnel Rail Link.
Three local regeneration partnerships are leading this transformation. They work closely with the local authorities and the sub-regional Thames Gateway Kent Partnership. All of them aim to protect and enhance cultural infrastructure and activities during the growth period.
Click below for more information
- Kent Thameside
- Medway Renaissance Partnership
- Swale Forward
The Thames Gateway Kent Partnership represents the major national, regional and local stakeholders. In 2002, it set out a vision of exciting waterside towns and cities, with a world-class environment and a real civic pride that provides an international exemplar of urban renaissance. It is currently working to update this vision. The update will feature culture as one of seven Strategic Priorities.
Click here for more details about how the partnership is looking at culture.
Culture in Thames Gateway North Kent
Since 2004, the principal cultural agencies in the South East have worked together to support culture in the TGNK. They fund a Cultural Co-ordinator to work with regeneration leaders to:
- secure recognition for the contribution that culture can make
- provide access to the expertise needed to ensure cultural projects are successful
- take forward strategic research and projects
The cultural agencies involved are
- Arts Council England, South East
- Culture South East
- English Heritage
- MLA South East
- Sport England South East
- Tourism South East
The partnership recently developed a Cultural Framework and Toolkit for TGNK, in consultation with many national, regional and local partners. This is a pilot for planning for culture in the Growth Areas. It
- defines the role of culture in the growth process;
- assesses the 2,000 organisation-strong local cultural sector;
- provides a suite of recommendations for planners;
- proposes a vision and set of guiding principles for cultural projects;
- explains what support is available.
Click here for the Cultural Framework and Toolkit
Click here for the Appendices
Click here for the Executive Summary