Our History: The Inquiry Phase 

In 2016, The Inquiry into the Civic Role of Arts Organisations was launched by the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation (UK Branch) to celebrate our 60th anniversary. The Inquiry was guided by an expert panel and International Reference Group. After a year spent researching within the sector, through What Next? workshops, a survey, academic analysis from King’s College and The Institute of Cultural Capital, and 40 in-depth case studies, we released a report Rethinking Relationships. 

Rethinking Relationships explored the themes we had uncovered, and identified barriers and lever for change. These included:

• the need to develop people and skills, particularly leadership teams
• the desire for deeper cross-partnership working
• the desire to scale up successful models
• the need for more flexible funding, which value ‘the civic’
• more diversity in staffing, visitors and work
• the need for a common language for this work. 

Since the publication of Rethinking Relationships we have been working with numerous partners to develop programmes, networks, training opportunities and more which address the barriers and levers identified. 

As we transitioned from Phase One of the programme to Phase 2, we dropped the words ‘The Inquiry’ from our name. We have finished our research and are now focused on what advocacy influence and approaches we need to undertake to bring about systemic change.

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