A key research question that all Creative People and Places programme must respond to is how to embed community voice across the programme. Arts Council England I particular specific on reviewing how CPPs ensure excellent high quality arts production, whilst remaining community led. This is often framed as ‘ensuring arts excellence and excellence in engagement’.

Culture Co-op has previously worked with the Co-operative College and Local CIC to review its governance structure (Culture Co-op Labs and Community Panels) as well as develop an Arts Excellence Framework between 2023-2024.

For the 2026-2029 programme, Culture Co-op would like to commission an External Evaluation to: 1. Review the practical usefulness and effectiveness of the Arts Excellence Framework

2. Review and develop the Culture Co-op Lab and Consortium Governance Structure (currently meeting quarterly)

3. Conduct independent interviews with Cultural Pioneers assessing individual impact and to what extent power is shared across the Community Panels