Starting spring 2021, a town centre shop unit has been provided to J7C on a meanwhile basis. This creative, community hub is enabling J7C to reach target/marginalised communities and support inclusive cultural activity/growth in the town centre / high street. Importantly, it is also supporting J7C’s professional development by building partnerships, experience, and organisational capacity.
The council was awarded £37.5 million through the Towns Fund central government programme, with £2 million allocated for the development of a new Stevenage Museum facility within a Town Square civic hub as well as £3.5 million to enhance the town’s outstanding cycling infrastructure as an arts and heritage corridor.
Stevenage Museum has initiated various projects to develop its audiences, partnerships, collections, and exhibitions in preparation for its relocation – some of which are detailed below – which are centred on a co-production model and elevating Stevenage’s profile as the first new town.
The council commissioned various arts programmes involving Stevenage’s cycleways, including:
- A LGBTQ+ public arts programme funded by Arts Council England and the council. The council, Junction 7 Creatives, and mentor Focal Point Gallery commissioned lead artists Nina Wakeford and several local supporting artists, which led to local LGBTQ+ community engagement and installations on the cycleways and in Stevenage Museum during the pandemic. This contributed toward improved inclusion and representation of our local LGBTQ+ community, celebrated our built heritage and diversity, and led to significant professional development for local artists, J7C’s commissioning portfolio, and Stevenage Museum’s audiences and interpretation ahead of its relocation.
- A new Stevenage Day creative programme funded by the National Lottery and the council centred on celebrating the cultural and creative diversity of Stevenage through a festival of music, dance, parade, and installations in June. This project, which is currently underway, is being co-produced by J7C and various community partners/practitioners working with and representing marginalised communities, providing them with agency and development opportunities. Overall, this is further driving forward our ambitions to address EDI within our community and our local creative sector and enhance pride of place.
- Two projects co-produced by J7C and a local organisation supporting our Black community (BeMe), which supported racial equality and resulted in multiple cycleway underpass installations and celebratory events during the pandemic. This significantly addressed EDI for both the local community and our partnership / local cultural sector as well as contributed toward pride of place and community cohesion.