Cultural Commissioning Programme

From 2013 to 2017 the Cultural Commissioning Programme (CCP) supported arts and cultural organisations to come together with public service commissioners. It helped them explore ways of working to deliver better outcomes for people and communities. The programme focussed on mental health and wellbeing, older people, and place-based commissioning although the knowledge gained is transferable to other public service areas. 

The programme also connected with national policy makers and influencers to raise awareness of the benefits of using arts and culture to engage with people, and to address health and social inequalities. 

Our work programme

CCP has trained nearly 350 cultural organisations, delivered over 20 conferences and seminars across England, and contributed to more than 100 events and policy forums. 

CCP has also given in depth support to two commissioning partner pilots, and to five locality-based groups of arts and cultural organisations.  This provided invaluable learning which has been shared with others in the cultural sector and public service sector.    

Over this time, the programme has developed an authoritative voice in this field of work, contributing to a critical mass of activity, supporting new relationships and helping to influence opinion and policy direction.  

Our reports and resources

The programme’s learning has been synthesised into guidance, reports, case studies and other resources: 

• Working with Public Service Commissioners, 2017 (pdf, 2.3MB) — quick guide for the arts and cultural sector on strengthening involvement with public service commissioning
• The Art of the Possible, 2017 (pdf, 2.5MB) — quick guide for commissioners of health and wellbeing services on partnering with the arts and cultural sector
• The Art of Commissioning, 2016 – documents learning from CCP’s two commissioning partner pilots, Kent County Council and Gloucestershire CCG, on using arts and culture to deliver outcomes for health, wellbeing and communities — full report (pdf, 2.2MB), summary (pdf, 242KB)
• Opportunities for Alignment, 2014 (pdf, 2.1MB) — research report on the challenges and opportunities for strengthening the use of arts and cultural organisations to deliver public service outcomes
• Film on cultural commissioning, 2016
• Cultural Commissioning Programme Evaluation Report, 2016 (1.0MB)— in-depth information from a sample of cultural organisations, commissioners, policy makers and influencers involved with CCP
• Useful resources to support cultural commissioning

Phase 1 (July 2013—June 2016) of CCP was delivered by NCVO in partnership with NEF and NPC.  Phase 2 (July 2016—Dec 2017) was delivered by NCVO. The programme received advice and support from its advisory board. 

CCP was funded by Arts Council England.

Image credits:

1. © Joe Magee, commissioned by Create Gloucestershire
2. Birmingham Royal Ballet
3. Creative Minds
4. Landmarks by Laura Ford commissioned by Willis Newson. Photography: Jim Wileman